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Lyr Req: This Memory (Wyrd Sisters)

01 Jul 97 - 07:34 PM (#7882)
Subject: Lyrics to song about the Montreal massacre
From: RS

Well if I get an answer to this one I will truly be amazed.

Heard an incredibly moving song at the Owen Sound Folk Festival, in Ontario, Canada, approx. 1993 or 94, about the Montreal massacre, in which a deranged young man shot and killed something like 16 female engineering students who were about to write their final exams (my apologies if I don't have the details quite right).

Each verse of the song begins with a lyrical description of a quietly important event in someone's life - about to write their final exams, camping in the woods, etc., - and ends with a (true story I believe) of the violence that destroys their peace and happiness.

I believe it was performed by the writer; have never seen or heard of it anywhere else. Has anyone else ever heard of this one?

Even the name of the composer would be a start!

Thanks -


01 Jul 97 - 08:09 PM (#7887)
Subject: RE: Lyrics to song about the Montreal massacre
From: Gene

The link below should help you in your search.

http://xp5.dejanews.com/getdoc.xp?recnum=2086612&server=db96q5&CONTEXT=867802142.2914&hitnum=24


05 Jul 97 - 05:42 PM (#8072)
Subject: Lyr Add: THIS MEMORY (Wyrd Sisters)
From: Moira Cameron, moirakc@internorth.com

It was written by a trio in Winnipeg called the Wyrd Sisters. The song is entitled "This Memory"

Early that morning, cup of coffee in her hand,
Kissed her mother on the cheek, said 'I'm more busy than I planned;
I'll be coming home a bit late--could you keep the supper warm?
Oh, it's just another busy day.'

Early that morning, getting ready by the door,
Kissed her lover on the cheek, said 'I'll be coming back for more.
Oh how I love you; we've got so much to live for, baby.
Oh, and I'll be coming home real soon.'

CHORUS: But it could have been me, just as easily.
Could have been my sister, left there to bleed.
Oh it could have been my father or brother done the deed--
Oh no! Don't let me lose this memory.

Later on that evening, I turned on my TV,
Listened as they're talkin' about the news of a shooting spree.
Fourteen young women shot dead in Montreal!
Oh, it's a killing of us all.
Yes it's a killing of us all. CHORUS TWICE.


06 Jul 97 - 12:05 AM (#8086)
Subject: RE: Lyrics to song about the Montreal massacre
From: RS

Thanks to Gene for the URL & to Moira for the lyrics. Obviously this was an event that provoked much musical reflection - the song Moira typed in, is very much the same genre as the one I heard, but not the same song. I recall verses describing at least several other parallel incidents of violence disrupting peaceful lives, in other different situations.

BTW, is the song "This Memory" on a CD somewhere?


07 Jul 97 - 10:26 AM (#8143)
Subject: RE: Lyrics to song about the Montreal massacre
From: Peter Timmerman

There were a lot of poems at the time as well, one of which may have been set to music. There was one I remember (the women were all engineering students) about all the roads to love that would not be built, all the bridges that would not span the chaos, and so on. Yours, Peter


10 Jul 97 - 02:56 AM (#8364)
Subject: RE: Lyrics to song about the Montreal massacre
From: Moira Cameron

Yes the song "This Memory" is recorded on an album. The group is called 'The Wyrd Sisters'. They recorded they're song on an album entitled "Leave a Little Light" (1992). They have their own web site: http://www.wyrdsisters.com/