This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
We were far from the shores of England
Far from our children and wives
To play our hand in the Newfoundland
Where the wind cuts like a knife
We were far from the shores of England
We shipped on board the Maryanne
To find a better life
And we walked across the water
When she broke up on the ice
We came ashore in Carbonear
With nothing but our rights
And I wondered if I e'er again
Would see my London lights
We were far from the shores of England
Far from our children and wives
To play our hand in the Newfoundland
Where the wind cuts like a knife
We were far from the shores of England
We spend our days amid the waves
Working water, hook, and twine
We'd go for weeks with blistered cheeks
Waiting for the sun to shine
But as long as the sky hold over us
We will not taste the brine
And we'll curse the cod
With the fear of God
As we haul in every line
We were far from the shores of England
Far from our children and wives
To play our hand in the Newfoundland
Where the wind cuts like a knife
We were far from the shores of England
Far from our native soil
To chase a wish and to hunt the fish
And on the rocks to toil
We were far from the shores of England
Should we find Fortune's Favour
And be spared from the gale
We will live off honest labour
With our hearts as big as sails
If I should die don't bury me
Or leave me to the sea
Send my bones back to my home
Where my spirit can be free
We were far from the shores of England
Far from our children and wives
To play our hand in the Newfoundland
Where the wind cuts like a knife
We were far from the shores of England
Far from our native soil
To chase a wish and to hunt the fish
And on the rocks to toil
We were far from the shores of England
Far from our children and wives
To play our hand in the Newfoundland
Where the wind cuts like a knife
We were far from the shores of England
We shipped on board the Maryanne
To find a better life
And we walked across the water
When she broke up on the ice
We came ashore in Carbonear
With nothing but our rights
And I wondered if I e'er again
Would see my London lights
We were far from the shores of England
Far from our children and wives
To play our hand in the Newfoundland
Where the wind cuts like a knife
We were far from the shores of England
We spend our days amid the waves
Working water, hook, and twine
We'd go for weeks with blistered cheeks
Waiting for the sun to shine
But as long as the sky hold over us
We will not taste the brine
And we'll curse the cod
With the fear of God
As we haul in every line
We were far from the shores of England
Far from our children and wives
To play our hand in the Newfoundland
Where the wind cuts like a knife
We were far from the shores of England
Far from our native soil
To chase a wish and to hunt the fish
And on the rocks to toil
We were far from the shores of England
Should we find Fortune's Favour
And be spared from the gale
We will live off honest labour
With our hearts as big as sails
If I should die don't bury me
Or leave me to the sea
Send my bones back to my home
Where my spirit can be free
We were far from the shores of England
Far from our children and wives
To play our hand in the Newfoundland
Where the wind cuts like a knife
We were far from the shores of England
Far from our native soil
To chase a wish and to hunt the fish
And on the rocks to toil
We were far from the shores of England
Lyrics submitted by grichardson2, edited by meaning600
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I think what Sean McCann achieved with this song was probably what he has been aiming for since he started writing music: to write a piece that has a great lyrical and musical flow and sounds like it belongs in the canon of traditional Newfoundland music. I love the way this piece builds up as it goes, with increased harmonies and instrumentation . . . I just love this song, I think it might be the best Great Big Sea song out there (and that's saying something!).
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