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It was in the spring, this year of Grace, with new life pushing through,
That I looked from the Citadel down to the Narrows
And asked what it's coming to.
I saw Upper Canadian concrete and glass right down to the waterline.
I have heard an old song down on Fisherman's Wharf -
Can I sing it just one time?
With half-closed eyes against the sun, for the warm wind giving thanks,
I dreamed of the years of the deep-laden schooners
Thrashing home from the Grand Banks.
The last lies, done, in the harbour sun, with her picture on a dime,
But I heard an old song down on Fisherman's Wharf -
Can I sing it just one time?
Can I sing it just one time?
Then "Haul away and heave her home!" This song is heard no more.
No boats to sing it for. No sails to sing it for.
There rises now a single tide - of tourists - passing through.
We traded old ways for the new - old ways for the new -
Old ways for the new - for the new.
"Now," you ask, "what's this romantic boy, who laments what's done and gone?
There was no romance on a cold winter ocean,
And the gales sang an awful song."
But my fathers knew of wind and tide, and my blood in Maritime,
And I heard an old song down on Fisherman's Wharf -
Can I sing it just one time?
Can I sing it just one time?
And "Haul away and sheet her home!" This song is heard no more
No boats to sing it for. No sails to sing it for.
There rises now a single tide - of tourists - passing through.
We traded old ways for the new - old ways for the new -
Old ways for the new - for the new.
So it was in the spring, this year of Grace, with new life pushing through,
That I looked from the Citadel down to the Narrows
And asked what it's coming to.
I saw Upper Canadian concrete and glass right down to the waterline.
I have heard an old song down on Fisherman's Wharf -
Can I sing it just one time?
Can I sing it just one time?
Can I sing it just one time?
Can I sing it just one time?