Kanu Links

Jack Pine © 1997 Dave Hadfield
Audio: click here

Long ago and far away I traveled back in early May,
Headed north to where the road got lost among the trees.
Paddled out upon a lake, a lonely kind of thirst to slake,
And camped that night along the shore and listened to the breeze.


[Chorus]
And the Jack Pine, jack pine groan,
Hard as the rock -- the earth's old bones.
Hear the wind, the north wind moan,
And the jack pine, jack pine groan.


I dreamed a voyager stood there, sparkling eyes and tangled hair,
Told me of a life he'd lived 200 years ago,
He'd had 3 wives, a dozen sons, an iron back, a hundred songs,
And late at night he'd hear the wind from under his canot.
[Chorus]


A Cree old man with ageless eyes, whispered next of ancient skies,
Spirit links between the creatures feathered, furred or finned,
And life along a river wild, alone except for wife and child,
Smoke a pipe, face the fire, and listen to the
wind.
[Chorus]


A trader with the Hudson Bay left his Scotland far away,
Was posted north and told me of the magic that it wove.
A pound of tea, a sack of flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder.
Seasons with the smell of fur, and evenings by the
stove.
[Chorus]


South again and home once more, it's day to day, and nothing more,
And friends just smile about the north no matter what I say.
And true enough I love my home and no one's healthy all alone,
But late at night I hear the wind -- it never goes away.

[Chorus and end]