Lyrics: Irene Sankoff/David Hein
Music: Irene Sankoff/David Hein
Welcome to the townies and the come from aways
Welcome to the locals who have always said they'd stay
My father's father's father crashed his ship into this rock
Heaven and hell don't matter much 'cause it's here I'm stuck
Welcome to the rock Welcome to Newfoundland
It's farther to Manhattan than it is to Ireland
They say no man's an island but an island makes a man
Especially when one comes from one like Newfoundland
I'm an islander I am an islander …
I'm an islander I am an islander …
I'm an islander I am an islander …
I'm an islander I am an islander …
Welcome to the wildest weather that you've ever heard of
Where everyone is nicer but it's never nice above
'Cause it's mauzy or it's misky or it's muddy or it's scad
And when it's finally sunny it's a sign it's getting bad
Welcome to the rock Welcome to Newfoundland
The drunkest fellas in the room are playing in the band
Welcome to the farthest place you'll get from Disneyland
Fish and chips and shipwrecks this is Newfoundland
Welcome to the land where the winters tried to kill us
-And we said -We will not be killed
Welcome to the land where the waters tried to drown us
-And we said -we will not be drowned
Welcome to the land where we lost our loved ones
-And we said -We will still go on
Welcome to the land where the winds tried to blow
And we said no
In the winter, from the water through the wind
If a stranger ends up at our door
We welcome them in
We welcome them in
I am an islander
Welcome to the cod and to the trees and to the fog
And to the ferries and the berries and the failing fisheries
And to kitchen parties to the ones departed
In our hearts we know you'll never
Leave this little bit of heaven where we started
To the down and the out of town on quads
And thanks to God we are the poorest but the richest where it counts
And to the St. John's girls with their sails unfurled
To our friends at the end of the world we say
Welcome to the rock!