I am quite partial to songs that tell a story, and this is one that certainly touches the heart. It makes for a good companion piece to Out From St. Leonard's, written by Gary O'Driscoll and recorded by The Irish Descendants and The Ennis Sisters. This is from Simani (Sim and I), Sim Savory and Bud Davidge.

For those who are unfamiliar with the background of the song, I hope a Newfoundlander will come in and explain it far better than I can.

OUTPORT PEOPLE
(Bud Davidge)

They're outport people with outport ways
But there's no where to use them and now it's too late
And they curse on the one who uttered 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
Those uprooted people start withering 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 won't soothe the heart and they can't ease the mind

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

Don'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

Don'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 start withering fast
Those uprooted people start withering fast