Over an ocean and over a sea
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Beyond these great waters, oh what do I see?
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I see the great mountains
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climb from the coastline
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The hills of Cape Breton, this new home of mine
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Oh they come from the countries all over the world
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To hack at the forest, to plow the land down
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Fishermen, farmers and sailors all come
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To clear for the future this pioneer ground
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*We are an island, a rock in a stream
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We are a people as proud as there¡¯s been
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In soft summer breeze or in wild winter winds
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The home of our hearts, Cape Breton
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Over the rooftops and over the trees
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Within these new townships, oh what do I see?
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I see the black pitheads, the coal-wheels are turning
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The smokestacks are belching and the blast furnace burning
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Oh the sweat on the back is no joy to behold
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In the heat of the steel plant or mining the coal
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And the foreign-owned companies
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force us to fight
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For our survival and for our rights
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*Repeat
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Over the highways and over the roads
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Over the causeway, stories are told
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They tell of the coming and the going away
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The cities of America draw me away
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Ah the companies come, the companies go
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And the ways of the world we may never know
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We¡¯ll follow the footsteps of those on their way
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And we¡¯ll ask for the right to leave or to stay
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*Repeat
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The Island
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Aselin Debison |