Acadian Driftwood - Concert Version

Lyrics

[Spoken Intro: Robbie Robertson] We're gonna do another Canadian song. We're gonna bring out some of the Canadians to help us do it [Verse 1: Richard Manuel] The war was over and the spirit was broken The hills were smokin' as a man went through He stood on a cliff and watched the ships Slowly sinking to their rendesvouz [Verse 2: Levon Helm] They signed a treaty and our homes were taken Our loved ones forsaken, they didn't give a damn Try to raise a family, end up a enemy Over what went down on the Plains of Abraham [Chorus: Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, Rick Danko, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young] Acadian driftwood, gypsy tailwind They call my home the land of snow Canadian cold front moving in What a way to ride, oh, what a way to go [Verse 3: Richard Manuel] 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 [Verse 4: Levon Helm] We had kin living south of the border They're a little older and they've been around They wrote in a letter, "Life is a whole lot better So pull your skates, children, and come on down" [Chorus: Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, Rick Danko, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young] 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 [Verse 5: Rick Danko] Fifty under zero when the day became a threat My clothes were wet and I was drenched to the bone I been out ice fishing, oh, too much repetition Make a man wanna leave the only home he's known [Verse 6: Richard Manuel, Rick Danko] Sailed out of the gulf, headin' for St. Pierre Nothin' to declare, all we had was gone Broke down along the coast, oh, what hurt the most When the people there said, "You gotta keep moving on and on" [Chorus: Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, Rick Danko, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young] Acadian driftwood, gypsy tailwind They call my home the land of snow Canadian cold front moving in What a way to ride, oh, what a way to go [Verse 7: Richard Manuel] Everlasting summer filled with ill contempt This government had us walkin' in chains This ain't my turn, this ain't my season Can't think of one good reason to remain [Verse 8: Levon Helm] They worked in the sugar fields up from New Orleans It was evergreen up until the flood You could call it an omen, I'll point you where you're goin' I set my compass north, I got winter in my blood [Chorus: Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, Rick Danko, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young] Acadian driftwood, gypsy tailwind They call my home the land of snow Canadian cold front moving in What a way to ride, oh, what a way to go [Verse 9: Rick Danko] Sais tu, Acadie j'ai le mal du pays Ta neige, 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