The Island Lyrics - Sweet Is The Melody - Aselin Debison

Over an ocean and over a sea 

Beyond these great waters, oh what do I see? 

I see the great mountains 

Climb from the coastline 

The hills of Cape Breton, this new home of mine 

Oh they come from the countries all over the world 

To hack at the forest, to plow the land down 

Fishermen, farmers and sailors all come 

To clear for the future this pioneer ground 

[CHORUS] 

We are an island, a rock in a stream 

We are a people as proud as there's been 

In soft summer breeze or in wild winter winds 

The home of our hearts, Cape Breton 

Over the rooftops and over the trees 

Within these new townships, oh what do I see? 

I see the black pitheads, the coal-wheels are turning 

The smokestacks are belching and the blast furnace burning 

Oh the sweat on the back is no joy to behold 

In the heat of the steel plant or mining the coal 

And the foreign-owned companies 

Force us to fight 

For our survival and for our rights 

[CHORUS] 

Over the highways and over the roads 

Over the causeway, stories are told 

They tell of the coming and the going away 

The cities of America draw me away 

Ah the companies come, the companies go 

And the ways of the world we may never know 

We'll follow the footsteps of those on their way 

And we'll ask for the right to leave or to stay 

[CHORUS]