Barra Macneils - The Island

      The Island - Kenzie MacNeil

[Intro]
G  D    (4x)

[Verse 1]
G       D          G      D
Over an ocean, and over a sea
G                  D       Am7       D         D
Beyond these great waters, what do I see?
G               D              G              D
I see the great mountains that climb from the coastline,
G            D                 Am7         D         D
The hills of Cape Breton, this new home of mine.

       G             D              G        Em
And we come from the countries, all over the world
   C           Bm          Am               D
To hack at the forests, to plough the lands down.
Em         D            G           Em
Fishermen, farmers, and sailors all come,
   C             Em           D       G
To clear for the future, this pioneer ground.

[Chorus]
G         Am7       Em        D
We are an island, a rock in a stream
G        C          A                D
We are a people, as proud as there's been
   G           Am7           Bm          D
In soft summer breeze, or in wild winter winds
    Em          D            C   G         G  D  C  G
The home of our hearts, Cape Bre-ton...

[Verse 2]
G       D          G      D
Over the rooftops and over the trees
G                  D       Am7       D         D
Within these new townships, O what do I see?
G               D              G              D
I see the black pit heads, the coal wheels are turning
G            D                 Am7         D         D
The smoke stacks are belching and the blast furnace burning.

       G             D              G        Em
Ahhh the sweat on the back is no joy to behold
   C           Bm          Am               D
In the heat of the steel plant or mining the coal.
Em         D            G           Em
And the foreign owned companies force us to fight
   C             Em           D       G
For our survival, and for out rights.

[Chorus]
G         Am7       Em        D
We are an island, a rock in a stream
G        C          A                D
We are a people, as proud as there's been
   G           Am7           Bm          D
In soft summer breeze, or in wild winter winds
    Em          D            C   G         G  D  C  G
The home of our hearts, Cape Bre-ton...

[Verse 3]
G       D          G      D
Over the highways and over the roads
G                  D       Am7       D         D
Over the causeway, stories are told.
G               D              G              D
They tell of the coming and the going away
G            D                 Am7         D         D
Cities of America draw me away.

       G             D              G        Em
Oh and the companies come, and the companies go
   C           Bm          Am               D
And the ways of the world we may never know.
Em         D            G           Em
We'll follow the footsteps of those on their way,
   C             Em           D       G
and still ask for the right to leave or to stay.

[Chorus]
G         Am7       Em        D
We are an island, a rock in a stream
G        C          A                D
We are a people, as proud as there's been
   G           Am7           Bm          D
In soft summer breeze, or in wild winter winds
    Em          D            C   G         G  D  C  G
The home of our hearts, Cape Bre-ton... (2x)