The Cree First Nation at the James Bay Basin are perenially affected by the floods from too much snow and have to be rescued and flown south.
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The Cree First Nation at the James Bay Basin are perenially affected by floods from too much snow and have to be rescued and flown south. The question is of how much the old want to stay and how much the youth want to return.
Lyrics
The River Rose - (Neil Cotton & Dai Crowther)
V1
This winter the James Bay basin had extra heavy snow
The rivers stayed rock hard cause it was extra cold
March came in like a Lion but walked out like a lamb
Thawing the sheet of white that had covered their land
Lift 1
The river was rising up licking at their doors
Last time this happened was just 3 years before
Chorus:
Their island’s on the Fort Albany River
One hour paddle from its mouth
The spring flood has forced the Hercules
To come in and fly them out
The river rose and they were flown south
The river rose and they were flown south
V2
Families with little kids, the old and the infirmed
Were cradled in the wings of the Army’s silver birds
Proudly independent, the old Cree made their stand
Some of them too stubborn to leave their Native land
Lift 2
This reserve has struggled with this cycle many times before
The youth are beginning to wonder if they'll move back for more
Chorus:
Their island’s on the Fort Albany River
One hour paddle from its mouth
The spring flood has forced the Hercules
To come in and fly them out
The river rose and they were flown south
The river rose and they were flown south
Tag:
The only flowers that grow
Are the rose of ice and snow
The old want to stand their ground
Their youth are southern bound
The river rose and they were flown south
The river rose and they were flown south
