Merasheen Farewell

(Composed by Captain Ernie Wilson)

Merasheen Farewell was composed by Captain Ernie Wilson who grew up in Merasheen and now resides in Yarmouth, NS. The song capsulizes the feelings of those who lived in the Island community and laments the loss of a whole segment of outport culture destroyed by resettlement. For Merasheeners it expresses a very personal appreciation of the "Happy Homes We Had in Merasheen".  It is a song which leaves you with a lump in your throat and a tear in your eye. Sung by Gabe Pomroy of Merasheen.

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 Isle 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 will 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 use for bait
and to fertilize their land;
No more they'll watch their gardens grow,
or the meadows full of hay,
Or walk the road in their working clothes
in a 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 you hear the sounds of laughter,
or the songs they used to sing,
Those days are gone forever now,
and so is Merasheen.

I hope you're settled down by now,
in your homes across the way,
Although we're separated,
we''ll meet again some day;
And from all of us who live far away,
and from our children,
We thank you for those happy homes
we had in Merasheen.