Acadian Driftwood (Concert Version) - The Band

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 Acadian driftwood Gypsy tail wind They call my home, the land of snow Canadian coldfront, movin' in What a way to ride, oh what a way to go 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 wanna leave the only home he's known Sailed 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" Acadian driftwood Gypsy tail wind They call my home, the land of snow Canadian coldfront, movin' in What a way to ride, oh what a way to go 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 We 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

"Driftwood" Just like the driftwood of a dream Left of the seashore of sleep Just like the words that wouldn't rhyme Lost in the desert of time Time waits for no one at all No, not even you You thought you'd seen it all before You really thought you knew I don't remember what was said In the confusion that night I only know what's on my mind What's in the future we will decide Time waits for no one at all No, not even you You thought you'd seen it all before You really thought you knew I've shattered the illusion Of fortune and of fame But darling now I know you Life could never be the same Oh no... don't leave me driftwood On the shore Time waits for no one my love No, not even you You thought you'd seen it all before You really thought you knew I've shattered the illusion Of forture and of fame I'm waking up I'm reaching up I'm getting up from this game Oh no... don't leave me driftwood On the shore Oh no... don't, don't leave me driftwood On the shore...

Now Deep In The Heart Of A Lonely Kid Who Suffered So Much For What He Did, They Gave This Ploughboy His Fortune And Fame, Since That Day He Ain't Been The Same. See The Man With The Stage Fright Just Standin' Up There To Give It All His Might. And He Got Caught In The Spotlight, But When We Get To The End He Wants To Start All Over Again. I've Got Fire Water Right On My Breath And The Doctor Warned Me I Might Catch A Death. Said, You Can Make It In Your Disguise, Just Never Show The Fear That's In Your Eyes. See The Man With The Stage Fright, Just Standin' Up There To Give It All His Might. He Got Caught In The Spotlight, But When We Get To The End He Wants To Start All Over Again. Now If He Says That He's Afraid, Take Him At His Word. And For The Price That The Poor Boy Has Paid, He Gets To Sing Just Like A Bird, Oh, Ooh Ooh Ooh. Your Brow Is Sweatin' And Your Mouth Gets Dry, Fancy People Go Driftin' By. The Moment Of Truth Is Right At Hand, Just One More Nightmare You Can Stand. See The Man With The Stage Fright Just Standin' Up There To Give It All His Might. And He Got Caught In The Spotlight, But When We Get To The End He Wants To Start All Over Again, Hmm Hmm, You Wanna Try It Once Again, Hmm Hmm, Please Don't Make Him Stop, Hmm Hmm, Let Him Take It From The Top, Hmm Hmm, Let Him Start All Over Again.

Everything is open Nothing is set in stone Rivers turn to ocean Oceans tide you home Home is where the heart is But your heart had to roam Drifting over bridges Never to return Watching bridges burn You're driftwood, floating underwater Breaking into pieces, pieces, pieces Just driftwood, hollow and of no use Waterfalls will find you, bind you, grind you Nobody is an island Everyone has to go Pillars turn to butter Butterflying low Low is where your heart is But your heart has to grow Drifting under bridges Never with the flow And you really didn't think it would happen But it really is the end of the line So I'm sorry that you turned to driftwood But you've been drifting for a long, long time Everywhere there's trouble Nowhere's safe to go Pushes turn to shovels Shoveling the snow Frozen, you have chosen The path you wish to go Drifting now forever And forever more Until you reach your shore You're driftwood, floating underwater Breaking into pieces, pieces, pieces Just driftwood, hollow and of no use Waterfalls will find you, bind you, grind you And you really didn't think it would happen But it really is the end of the line So I'm sorry that you turned to driftwood But you've been drifting for a long, long time You've been drifting for a long, long time You've been drifting for a long, long Drifting for a long, long time