Ballad of St. Anne's Reel Songtext

von David Mallett

Ballad of St. Anne's Reel

He was stranded in some tiny town
On fair Prince Edward's Island
Waiting for a ship to come and find him
A one horse place, a friendly face
Some coffee and a tiny trace
Some fiddling in the distance far behind him

A dime, a cross, the counter then, a shy hello
A brand new friend
A walk along the street in the wintry weather
A yellow light, an open door, a welcome friend
There's room for more
Soon they're standing there inside together
He said: 'I heard that tune before somewhere
But I can't remember when
Was it on some other friendly shore,
Did I heard it on the wind
Was it written on the sky above
I think I heard it from someone I love
But I never heard it sound so sweet since then'

How his feet begin to tap, the little boy says:
'I'll take your hat'
He's caught up in the magic of his smile
Then leaps the heart inside him
When off across the floor he sends
His clumsy body graceful as a child
He said: 'There's magic in the fiddler's arm
There's magic in this town
There's magic in the dancer's feet
In the way they put them down'
Smiling people everywhere, boots and ribbons
And locks of hair
Laughter, an old blue suits and Easter gowns

Well, the sailor's gone, the room is bare
The old piano's sitting there
Someone's hat left hanging on the rack
Some empty chairs, a wooden floor
That feels the touch of shoes no more
Waiting for the dancers to come back
And the fiddle is in the closet of some daughter of the town
Strings are broke and the bow is gone
And the case is buttoned down
Well often on December nights
When the air is cold and the wind is right
For the melody comes passing through this town