Dale,

"Outport People" is a song about the Resettlement Program of the 1960s - a provincial government scheme under Premier Joey Smallwood to move people from small outport communities to larger 'growth centres'. Although resettlement has been going on in Newfoundland for centuries, the more or less forced centralization by the government was new, and resented by most people. The present provincial government insists on the 100% support of the community before giving relocation assistance. With the declining populations of many ouports (caused by a downturn in the fisheries and increased mechanization) there will no doubt be many more communities that will be forced into resettling.

The original lyrics, directly from the author, are given below. A piano/vocal/guitar arrangement of the song ]appears in my songbook "All Together Now" (Vinland Music, , Box 40, Ladle Cove, NF, A0G 2Y0, Canada ) The book also includes "Out From St. Leonards".

You can email the author at: Bud.Davidge@thezone.net for a recording of the song.

-Eric


OUTPORT PEOPLE
(Bud Davidge)

They're outport people with outport ways,
But there's no way to use them and now it's too late;
And they curse on the one who utters the phrase:
"Resettlement now while resettlement pays."

He sits on the dock and he looks cross the bay,
And watches his memories as they pass on the waves;
And he wonders what cards fate might have dealt
If he told those officials to "Go straight to hell."

'Cause you can't take a man from the soil where he grew,
Lest you know how to solace his mind when you do;
And for God's sake don't say how much greener's the grass,
'Cause those uprooted people saw it wither too fast.

You can launch a house easy and tow it away,
But the home doesn't move - it continues to stay
And the dollars you make, sure they'll keep you alive,
But they can't soothe the heart and they won't ease the mind.

He spits on a plank and the memories roll,
The spring sun is shining - there's a lop in the cove;
The shoreline is dotted with lobster pot buoys,
But his boat's full of weeds, and there's tears in his eyes.

You can't take a man from the life that he knows,
And tear up his roots and expect him to grow;
'Cause if he's unwillingly forced to decide,
He'll move without leaving and never arrive.

You can't take a man from the life that he knows,
And tear up his roots and expect him to grow;
And for God's sake don't say how much greener's the grass,
Those uprooted people saw it wither too fast.


- ©1984 Bud Davidge