Lyr Add: My Cape Breton Shore (John Allan Cameron)

Subject: Lyr Add: My Cape Breton Shore
From: JMB
Date: 17 Mar 17 - 09:21 PM

MY CAPE BRETON SHORE - John Allan Cameron

INTRO:
D-G 4X

I(A)left Glencoe on a(D)wing and a prayer,
they were(G)young and wonderous(D)times;
But the(G)spirit of the Celts, I(D)could not(Bm)leave be(A)hind.
Now I(C)close(G)my(D)eyes, every(G)time I feel a(D)lone;
And the(G)sailing ships, and the(D)memor(Bm)ies that(A)take me home.


CHORUS:
(G)O, How I(D)long to be(G)in her arms a(D)gain.                           
(G)O ,How I(D)long to see those(Em)waves come rolling(A)in.
(Em)And I will leave her never(A)more,
My(Em)bonnie, my(G)Cape(A)Breton(D)shore. INTRO

Sometimes the bloom of youth can lead your heart astray,
But the miles and the years just wake you up one day.
So close your eyes, every time you fell alone;
And the sailing ships, and the memories that take you home.
CHORUS

D G D G D G Em A

I will leave her never more,
My bonnie, My Cape Breton shore.
And I will leave her never more,
My bonnie, my Cape Breton shore.

D G D G Bm G A D

Subject: Add: My Cape Breton Shore
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Mar 17 - 10:07 PM

Hi, JMB. Can you tell us anything about John Allan Cameron and the song? I went to Nova Scotia only once, and dawdled so long on the Lighthouse Route that I missed my chance to see Cape Breton. It took me three days to cover the 211 miles from Yarmouth to Halifax. Had a good time, though.

Here's a YouTube recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYDaVlq07sM

And lyrics without chords (it's best to have both)

MY CAPE BRETON SHORE
(John Allan Cameron)

I left Glencoe on a wing and a prayer,
They were young and wondrous times;
But the spirit of the Celts, I could not leave behind.
Now I close my eyes, every time I feel alone;
And the sailing ships, and the memories that take me home.

CHORUS:
O, How I long to be in her arms again.                           
O, How I long to see those waves come rolling in.
And I will leave her nevermore,
My bonnie, my Cape Breton shore.

Sometimes the bloom of youth can lead your heart astray,
But the miles and the years just wake you up one day.
So close your eyes, every time you feel alone;
And the sailing ships, and the memories that take you home.
CHORUS

I will leave her never more,
My bonnie, My Cape Breton shore.
And I will leave her never more,
My bonnie, my Cape Breton shore.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Cape Breton Shore
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Mar 17 - 10:09 AM

John Allan Cameron almost single handedly brought about world wide recognition of Cape Breton traditional Music. He is one of the giants of Canadian music, but seldom gets much recognition outside of Nova Scotia. I believe he once played at the Grand Ole Opry wearing a Kilt.
He came from the area of Cape Breton near Mabou where many great Musicians came from, The Rankins, Buddie and Natalie MacMaster as well as Ashley MacIsac. Next time you are in Nova Scotia Joe, head to the Red Shoe pub in mabou, great music.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Cape Breton Shore (Cameron)
From: ollaimh
Date: 18 Mar 17 - 08:57 PM

john allan cameron blazed a trail that many were able to follow, in spite of the bigotry in the folk music scene, glad you missed us in cape breton

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Cape Breton Shore (Cameron)
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Mar 17 - 09:46 AM

ollaimh, I don't quite understand your post.. What bigotry in the folk scene are you speaking of ?

---

Don't ask. It's a long story. Goes back to 2008 -Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Cape Breton Shore (Cameron)
From: JMB
Date: 19 Mar 17 - 09:52 PM

Thank you Guest for posting a description of John Allan Cameron. I learned when I was in school that he wore a kilt to the Grand Ole Opry as you mentioned. He was a fantastic musician. He had a great singing voice, could he ever pick out fiddle tunes on the twelve string and his arrangements were well done. His back up musicians were the finest in my opinion. Banks of Sicily is one of my favourites. I've read testimonials from people who knew him that he was a very kind man who loved Cape Breton his home. He's an alumnus of Saint Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.

Subject: John Allan Cameron (1938-2006)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Mar 17 - 10:36 PM

Hi, JMB. Thanks for introducing us to John Allan Cameron. I found a very nice YouTube tribute to him:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS4vQB92HRc

Wikipedia has a brief but interesting biography. Like me, John Allan Cameron was a Catholic seminarian for a number of years, but dropped out of the seminary before ordination. Like my brother-in-law from Maine, he attended St. Francis Xavier University (St. FX - pronounced Saint evecks) in Nova Scotia.

Gee, I feel like John and I are relatives.

-Joe-