Musical Map of Newfoundland and Labrador

WEST COUNTRY LADY - By Dermot O’Reilly

Over Piperstock Hill take the time for to wander
Across the main bridge to the north side and yonder;
And if you look long to the west there's a chance
That you'll see her move down to the bridge for the dance,
And she still hears the music of anvil and saw,
And she still looks to nature to lay out the law.
     
Chorus: She's a West country lady from back in the past,
And she faces the ocean where noisy waves blast on the rocks;
And the wind blows a gale from all quarters,
Or summer sun sparkles on still waters down in the bay.

She was there when they came on the very first ship,
And she saw how the admirals ruled with a whip;
And she worked with her man and her young sons and daughters,
To harvest the fields and the woods and the waters;
And often with sadness she's looked to the sea,
With a longing for times that were never to be.

Since the sea was the way between island and nation,
And old ways were new ways in this planters’ station;
She's watched all the changes with pride and some sorrow,
Some old ways remain and she hopes that tomorrow
Will kindly tend to the bountiful sea,
And the land and her people will always be free.