Merasheen Isle Farewell     Merasheen Farewell (Youtube)

Attention all good friends of mine, and listen to my tale.
Relating to an island down in Placentia Bay.
It was my home of childhood times, where memories still do stray;
The lovely lsle of Merasheen down in Placentia Bay.

The people made their living, on the land and the sea:
They all helped one another, that was their policy,
With their little gardens by their house, and their boats moored to the Pier,
And a sing song in the evening, around a keg of beer.

Sometime in December, they turned out all the lights,
And locked the doors on their happy homes that they worked for all their lives.
It would break your heart to see them walk to the boat to go away,
As they bid farewell to Merasheen, down in Placentia Bay.

No more they‘ll watch the Caplin, as they wash upon the sand,
The little fish they used for bait and to fertilize their land.
No more they'll watch their gardens grow, or their meadows full of hay,
Or walk the road in their working clothes in their good old-fashioned way.

The houses now are all closed up, their windows no more will rise;
Their doors will never open again, to welcome you inside.
Nor will your hear the sounds of laughter, or the songs they used to sing.
Those days are gone forever, and so is Merasheen.

I hope you’re settled down by now in your homes across the way.
Although we're separated, but will meet again someday.
And from all of us who live far away, and from their children,
We thank you for the happy homes we had in Merasheen.

This song refers to the resettlement of the people of Merasheen in the late nineteen sixties. lt was composed by Ernie Wilson and was made popular by his sister Chris Rose, an exceptionally fine singer. Chris could always be called upon to sing it at a "time or a wedding."