Acadian Driftwood

The Band

About Acadian Driftwood

"Acadian Driftwood" is a song by The Band. It was the fourth track on their sixth studio album Northern Lights – Southern Cross (1975), written by member Robbie Robertson. Richard Manuel, Levon Helm and Rick Danko trade off lead vocals and harmonize on the chorus.


Year:
1989
6:39
105 
#1

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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 to raise a family
End up an enemy
Over what went down on the Plains of Abraham.

[Chorus]
Acadian driftwood, 
Gypsy tailwind
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
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 been around
They wrote in a letter 
Life is a whole lot better
So pull up your stakes, children,
And come on down

Acadian driftwood, 
Gypsy tailwind
They call my home, 
The land of snow
Canadian cold front, 
Movin' in
What a way to ride, 
Oh what a way to go

Fifty under zero when the day became a threat
My clothes were wet 
And I was drenched to the bone
Then out ice fishin', mmm, 
Too much repetition
Make a man want to leave
The only home he's known

Sailed out of the Gulf,
Headed for St. Pierre
Nothing to declare,
All we had was gone
Broke down along the coast oh
What hurt the most
When the people there said
"You better keep movin' on"

Acadian driftwood, 
Gypsy tailwind
They call my home, 
The land of snow
Canadian cold front, 
Movin' in
What a way to ride, 
Oh what a way to go

Everlastin' summer
Filled with ill-contempt
This government
Had us walkin' in chains
This isn't my turn
This isn't my season
Can't think of one good reason
To remain oh 

We worked in the sugar fields
Up from New Orleans
It was ever-green
Up until the flood
You could call it an omen
Point ya where ya goin'
Set my compass North
I got winter in my blood 

Acadian driftwood, 
Gypsy tailwind
They call my home, 
The land of snow
Canadian cold front, 
Movin' in
What a way to ride, 
Oh what a way to go

Sais tu, Acadie j'ai le mal do pays
Ta neige, Acadie, fait des larmes au soleil
J'arrive Acadie, teedle um, teedle um, teedle oo
J'arrive Acadie, teedle um, teedle um, teedle oo
J'arrive Acadie, teedle um, teedle um, teedle oo
J'arrive Acadie, teedle um, teedle um, teedle oo
J'arrive Acadie, teedle um, teedle um, teedle oo

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The Band

The Band were a Canadian-American roots rock group that originally consisted of Rick Danko (bass guitar, double bass, fiddle, trombone, vocals), Levon Helm (drums, mandolin, guitar, vocals), Garth Hudson (keyboard instruments, saxophones, trumpet), Richard Manuel (piano, drums, baritone saxophone, vocals) and Robbie Robertson (guitar, vocals). The members of the Band first came together as they joined rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins's backing group, The Hawks, one by one between 1958 and 1963. more »

9 fans

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.
Music Themes
The 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.
Influences and Interpretations
Robbie 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.
Performances and Recognitions
In 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.
Acclaimed Lyrics
One 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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