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The River, 2019

by Marc Audet

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1.
Hear You Sing 04:47
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If I ever knew, knew just what to say Would you follow me, and would you wanna stay And if I thought of one, or if I thought of two Yaaaaaa, silence sung by you And every single time, the story has be told Would you listen in, and with me grow old Or would the river dry, with sand banks end to end I can see the ink, that your thoughts surely send Yaaaaa, your thoughts surely send I hear voices telling me, telling me to run Run so far away, far away from here But if I chose to stay, would the grey turn blue Would the north winds stall, call the critics fools Yaaaaa, call the critics fools I can feel you now, your presence in my soul I feel that we can stand, hills and valleys old Our river never ends, winter summer spring If story had be told, I live to hear you sing Yaaaaa, I live to hear you sing I live to hear you sing
2.
I Favour You 03:52
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Everywhere, every chance, every time and every dance Would you girl, come take my hand? Every thought, every smile, every word and every mile Would you, stay for a while? What would you say, if I could not chose? And where would you go, if I didn’t love you too? How would you feel, if I couldn’t stand here still? And would you stay… Against your will? I see you here, I see you there, I take a trip, you’re everywhere Would you say, I favour you? I say Hello, you smile my way, I start to talk, but you turn away What did I, I say to you? What will you do, when the sky turns shades of grey? If I cried, what would you want to say? Or if I ran, would you try to talk me down Would you want me here … with you alone? I hear you talk, I see you cry, you dress in black, I don’t know why Why won’t you, you tell me so? You think of me, you think you know, of everything, inside my soul Would you say, you favour me? How would you feel, if the river ran dry? Would you tell the truth, or tell a lie? Would it be, a story way too long? Is your love for me … Or not at all? Would you stay, if the road came to an end? What would be, the message that you’d send? I can tell you, my feelings are true Do you know that I … I favour you?
3.
Holden Pond 04:04
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It was time, they said, for progress to be made The survey done back in nineteen twenty nine Farms and towns and even lakes and streams They were all, to be, given to my dreams But I will never forget my land My feet still feel the stones and the sand I will never forget my land I still see the patterns of her hand Landscape seen by peoples long of past For thousands of years, the deep valley cast The sounds and smells and sights of age But the time had come with promise and with wage But I will never forget my land My feet still feel the stones and the sand I will never forget my land I still see the patterns of her hand Every day the waters rise Cold still blanket, our demise Friends of far, and distant cries Forever gone, under blackened ... light The church steps rest, with the fences and the roads Empty fields, and our hearts of heavy load The houses moved, and new plots to be had But the spirits stayed, their absence left us sad But I will never forget my land My feet still feel the stones and the sand I will never forget my land I still see the patterns of her hand Every day the waters rise, Cold still blanket, Our demise Friends of far, and distant cries, Forever gone, blackened light Forever gone, under blackened ... light
4.
Another Chance 03:52
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If I …. had another chance To ask a question of romance I would not hesitate, I’d put the question face to face Hey, what do you say? This warm day in May May I take your hand, for this one last dance? If I had to go back to school To learn more of life and golden rule I’d be a doctor, or an engineer I’d sell my treasures by pawn I’d study dusk to dawn And graduate with colours of success If I had to quit my lousy job And start again, in some other form I’d turn to the work I really love Working with my hands Keeping open plans Working for the time to be had If I had to leave my home town A train I’d catch to run on down Down the coast as far as the rail lines run And there I’d stop to stay Make some time to play Learn of life, and surely make new friends But if I had to chose my love again It’s you I’d pick, forever friend And so we sit and contemplate The times that we’ve had Both good times and bad The future’s left ahead, and that’s for sure The times that we’ve had Both good times and bad The future’s left ahead, and that’s for sure
5.
Let it Rain 04:07
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City lights, on West Avenue Cloths were ragged, thin soled shoes Working in a kitchen, to pay food and rent The coldness of the city, made him question his sense He met a lady on the north transit line She saw him staring, with empty eyes She asked where you going? Where you been? But he had nothing, but a faint country grin She saw, that look in him, She knew where she had been She said, these words to him, she said these words to him, said these words to him Let it rain ... let it pour ... Waters rise ... waters fall ... That was the turning point, on his highway of life That act of kindness, might have saved his life Still had no money, but now he had the sense He could see the darkness, and it was up to him But still, I heard him say, he remembered, what she said He shouted, now and then ... shouted now and then ... he shouted now and then ... Let it rain ... let it pour ... Waters rise ... waters fall ... Ten years riding, the north transit line In a young girl riding, he saw those empty eyes She didn’t have no money, didn’t have the sense He knew what might happen, without words of content He knew where he had been, he saw the pain she was in He said, these word again ... he said these words again ... he said these words again Let it rain ... let it pour ... Waters rise ... waters fall ...
6.
Stone Fences 03:40
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Arrived with hope, from distant lands Promise of wealth, grown from this land Forests to await, and stones to pile Sheds to build, well to install I toil for you, I sweat for you, I bleed for you, from this land I will make do, I must come through, I sing for you, from this land First winter was hard, barely a barn One horse and two cows, potatoes and lard Faith was strong, and help was nearby No rest for the wary, forever must try I toil for you, I sweat for you, I bleed for you, from this land I will make do, I must come through, I sing for you, from this land Five years on land, most fields had been cleared Stone fences were small, crops were sincere Children were growing, and soon they would work Eight backs in the field, with horses of worth I toil for you, I sweat for you, I bleed for you, from this land I will make do, I must come through, I sing for you, from this land Twenty years on, the fences were tall Crops were secure, the farm had most all Prosperity, it came and went With the floods and the droughts, of lands mostly spent I toil for you, I sweat for you, I bleed for you, from this land I will make do, I must come through, I sing for you, from this land A century gone by, the fields are at rest Houses collapsed, the tools are of rust Trees have reclaimed, the lands of sod But the stone fences stand, marking the cross I toil for you, I sweat for you, I bleed for you, from this land I will make do, I must come through, I sing for you, from this land
7.
la Riviere 04:10
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The river flows, from north to south From streams of slight, to never doubt Upon this route, come men of force Carrying furs of size, from lands of north Tales of wild, times of blight Endure the cold, few sleep at night Crates of supplies, carried over land Hardship beared, traditions ran This is the blood of our ancestral past Times of frontier, times of first flight Tracks of these men, are marked in the stones Of the riverbed shaped by ages of flow From Thunder Bay, to Montreal Along the Manitou and Mattawa The Outaouis, brought scents of home Charging south, as winter fell This is the blood of our ancestral past Times of frontier, times of first flight Tracks of these men, are marked in the stones Of the riverbed shaped by ages of flow And as they dug, their paddles deep Came songs of march, surpass defeat These songs still sound, in echoes round Round the river bend, past the point of south This is the blood of our ancestral past Times of frontier, times of first flight Tracks of these men, are marked in the stones Of the riverbed shaped by ages of flow Of the riverbed shaped by ages of flow
8.
Talk a Mile 03:52
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I wish that you would come and stand right here I’d tell the story of my life (and it’d be good) But instead I’m wondering, what to say or what to do And if you’d come I’d surely have to try I’d try to say the words, but you would only look away Let’s walk a while, let’s talk a mile I wanna see that great big smile I know that you would surely stay with me I know that you would stay for a while (or maybe two) Every chance I get, I’d say the words, that make you feel, That staying here would be well worth your while I have to say that I can wait so long, that I, would turn Shades of grey, what do you say, Why … why don’t you stay? But time will tell me what will happen here Will you come, or will you, will you go? (but please don’t go) Every time I think of this situation I can say that I Really don’t know how or if to go Come on baby, tell me something, show me a sign, make me high Relax a while, let’s talk a mile And tell me things I really wanna hear I know that you would surely stay with me I know that you would stay for a while (or maybe two) Every chance I get, I’d say the words, that make you feel, That staying here would be well worth your while I have to say that I can wait so long, that I, would turn Shades of grey, what do you say, Why … why don’t you stay?
9.
Borrowed Time 03:48
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The plant whistle screams at four twenty five Buses lumber down the streets The men step off, and walk to home and relaxation Dinner ready, children at their feet But the east wind blew, kicking up the river A steady rain came in time I remember, the water started rising Wet feet, cold hands, teared eyes Fifty six was his age of last commitment Hung up his suit and tie for good Aimed for a time of final relaxation But not to the maker, who called the day I remember the way it used to be Simple times, long days Curling rinks, … golf carts and fishing Children home, blistered hands A quiet man, cool deep waters Lived with few regrets Planned the years, planned for family Beared the weight of time and sweat I remember, what he said to me Silent words, steady hands I remember, that’s how it had to be Calling life, borrowed time Fifty two, I sit in sad reflection Many years past the time I said good bye Quiet moments, thoughtful recollection I live the moments by his side I remember, the way it used to be Simple times, long days I remember, that’s how it had to be Calling life, borrowed time I remember, what he said to me Silent words, steady hands I remember, when the water started rising Wet feet, cold hands, teared eyes.
10.
Not Forgotten 04:31
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Life was thin, but efforts made Traditions ran, with music played Men at camps, for timber cut The cycle ran, at times with luck Now I wonder, I wonder how it felt Spirits, left to others, A cold hand that was dealt Steamboat wharfs and stage coach lines And then automobiles and highway lines Farm fields more as families spread The cycle made this life content Now I wonder, I wonder how it felt Spirits, left to others, a cold hand that was dealt Like a stream without water, or a child without laughter It was then, and thereafter, but the truth is not forgotten The survey crews, then the Government With papers held, t’was their land then Values paid and new lands held But a coldness followed, I can tell Homesteads gone, most fields grown in And in the middle of it all, a factory stands Concrete towers, but ancient eyes Watch while keeping perfect time Now, I wonder, I wonder how it felt Spirits, left to others, a cold hand that was dealt Like a stream without water, or a child without laughter It was then, and thereafter, but the truth is not forgotten ...
11.
Sleepy Head 04:14
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Your smile, your cheeks, your laugh By day, you are my little angel Each day, on dusty wings You bring me joys I’ve never seen You are my aaaaaaaaaaaangel… You are my aaaaaaaaaaaangel… You are my angel … But no more, ups and downs Go to bed, my sleepy head Wipe away, the scowl and lay Your head down, my sleepy head You are my aaaaaaaaaaaangel… You are my aaaaaaaaaaaangel… You are my angel … Float along, the rivers of dreams, No more work, for this little being And it seems, that when angels appear They appear as sleepy heads You are my aaaaaaaaaaaangel… You are my aaaaaaaaaaaangel… You are my angel … Just watch me, for when you wake Once again, you’ll be my little angel Your smile, your cheeks, your laugh By night, you are my little angel Your smile, your cheeks, your laugh You know, you are my little angel
12.
Battle Hill 03:28
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Carpentry was his trade of first, But with time came a type of thirst With a survey crew, nineteen fourty nine, Four men of skill to blaze the line The roadway line At Klock they met, gear and maps and tent Due north they lead, where few had went With autumn rains, the start of the chill They surveyed beside, a towering Hill T’was Battle Hill Battle Hill ... Of the land so strong, so I sing this song About a place called Battle Hill The ridges high, forests dark unseen Deep valleys low, with marshes green West they swung, to flatter ground But one ridge they met, had no way around Had no way around One more try, as nights drew long The survey crew, on shore with song With maps spread out, they chose their run Northwest they’d go, straight into the Hill Into Battle Hill Battle Hill … Battle Hill ... Of the land so strong, so I sing this song About a place called Battle Hill The highway now, west of the line Runs up that hill, climbing to the sky The valley below, from the mountain high And men they rest, and I know why And I know why Battle Hill ... Of the land so strong, so I sing this song About a place called Battle Hill
13.
la Riviere REMIX 04:06
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14.
Stone Fences REMIX 03:37
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15.
Another Chance REMIX 03:47
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about

For many, rivers are a perpetual life force. They have shaped the landscape over the millennia, they sustain a wealth of biodiversity, and they have greatly influenced our cultural heritage. They provide a means of travel, a source of prosperity, a renewal of spirit and they call to me as a metaphor for the trials of life. The River is a compilation of songs about experiences and stories of life and times in the Ottawa Valley.

credits

released February 22, 2019

Brock Zeman – acoustic guitar
Blair Hogan – bass guitar, mandolin, electric guitar
Brad Scott - Banjo
Tyler Kealey – piano, accordion
Dylan Roberts – drums
Brian Hebert and Dan Schryer – fiddle
Jenna Steele – harmony vocals

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Marc Audet image

Marc Audet Deep River, Ontario

Marc Audet is a Canadian folk music singer/songwriter. In many songs, Marc pays tribute to the heritage of the Ottawa Valley. His discology includes 4 albums: The River, 2019, Forgotten Memories (live folklore album), 2021, Open Water, 2023, and Those Days, 2024. Musically, Marc Audet has something to say. Visit www.marcaudetmusic.com for more information. ... more

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