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 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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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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