Acadian Driftwood
The Band
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The war was over and the spirit was broken The hills were smokin' as the men withdrew We stood on the cliffs Oh, and watched the ships Slowly sinking to their rendezvous They signed a treaty and our homes were taken Loved ones forsaken They didn't give a damn Try'n' to raise a family End up the enemy Over what went down on the plains of Abraham Acadian driftwood Gypsy tail wind They call my home the land of snow Canadian cold front movin' in What a way to ride Oh, what a way to go Then some returned to the motherland The high command had them cast away And some stayed on to finish what they started They never parted They're just built that way We had kin livin' south of the border They're a little older and they've been around They wrote a letter life is a whole lot better So pull up your stakes, children and come on down Fifteen under zero when the day became a threat My clothes were wet and I was drenched to the bone Been out ice fishing, too much repetition Make a man want to leave the only home he's known Sailing out of the gulf headin' for Saint Pierre Nothin' to declare All we had was gone Broke down along the coast But what hurt the most When the people there said "You better keep movin' on" Everlasting summer filled with ill-content This government had us walkin' in chains This isn't my turf This ain't my season Can't think of one good reason to remain I've worked in the sugar fields up from New Orleans It was ever green up until the floods You could call it an omen Points ya where you're goin' Set my compass north I got winter in my blood Acadian driftwood Gypsy tail wind They call my home the land of snow Canadian cold front movin' in What a way to ride Ah, what a way to go
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Written by: ROBBIE ROBERTSON
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
5 facts about this song
Music Production"Acadian Driftwood" was composed by Robbie Robertson, a member of The Band.
- The song was first released in 1975 as part of their album "Northern Lights - Southern Cross."
- The album, released by Capitol Records, was the first to be recorded at The Band's Shangri-La Studios in Malibu, California.
- "Acadian Driftwood" was produced by The Band themselves along with engineer Rob Fraboni.
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Music ThemesThe song draws on the historical event known as the Expulsion of the Acadians, which involved British deportation of French-speaking populations from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island in the late 1750s.
- "Acadian Driftwood" exemplifies The Band’s interest in historical themes and the North American folk tradition.
- The song reflects on the pain, displacement, and longing experienced by the Acadians during and after their expulsion.
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Influences and InterpretationsRobbie Robertson revealed in interviews that several elements in the song were influenced by Bob Dylan.
- The rhythmic structure and evocative storytelling of the song have been compared to traditional folk ballads.
- Robertson used fictional names in the song to weave poignant individual stories into the wider historical narrative.
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Performances and RecognitionsIn live performances of "Acadian Driftwood," the members of The Band often traded lead vocals, reflecting the multiple perspectives in the song's lyrics.
- The song is considered one of The Band’s most accomplished works and has received critical acclaim for its emotional depth and historical context.
- Over the years, various artists have covered "Acadian Driftwood," including notable performances by The Roches and The Sadies.
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Acclaimed LyricsOne of the highlighted lyrics of the song is "They signed a treaty/ and our homes were taken/ Loved ones forsaken/ They didn't give a damn," again focusing on the harsh circumstances faced by the Acadians.
- Joni Mitchell once commented on the moving quality of the song's lyrics, highlighting "Acadian driftwood/ Gypsy tailwind/ They call my home/ The land of snow," a line that encapsulates the cultural displacement narrated in the song.
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"Acadian Driftwood Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 30 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/32839430/The+Band/Acadian+Driftwood>.
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