Ties That Bind
Written by: Terry Kelly, Floyd King, Jerry Rideout, Doug Mallory
Published by: Gun K Publishing & Duff Banks Music – SOCAN
There’s a halo of mist surrounding the shore
And it welcomed John Cabot and the Vikings before.
In search of a dream when they came on that tide.
It’s history we cherish and share with our children with pride.
When our fathers were young they fished from the sea.
They worked in the forest. They worked in the field.
They sat ’round the fire and spun many a yarn
And created a culture that thrives on its own wit and charm.
Chorus
Ties that bind us together, oh-so-strong!
We’ll live forever even as time rolls on.
For those of us who wander
And those who stay behind,
We’re forever held together
By the ties that bind.
Through the valleys and hills the old narrow gauge
Was laid with pickaxe, wheelbarrow and spade.
Though years have gone by since “The Bullet’s” last run,
It’s a part of the heart of each Newfoundland daughter and son.
Ties that bind us together, oh-so-strong!
We’ll live forever even as time rolls on.
For those of us who wander
And those who stay behind,
We’re forever held together
By the ties that bind.
There’s a halo of mist surrounding the bay
And it welcomes the oil men who’d come from away.
A promise of hope on the incoming tide
Of a life and a future
Our children can look to with pride.
Ties that bind us together, oh-so-strong!
We’ll live forever even as time rolls on.
For those of us who wander
And those who stay behind,
We’re forever held together
By the ties that bind.
We’re forever held together
By the ties that bind.
Ties that bind.
Terry Kelly – lead vocal
Background vocals: Bev Mills, Jan O’Reilly, Judy Walker, Darina Yordanova,
Trevor Mills, Aengus Finnan, Terry Kelly
Curly Boy Stubbs – acoustic guitars
Tom Leighton – accordion
Don Reed – fiddle
Loretto Reid – penny whistle
John Sheard – piano
Brian Leonard – drums, percussion
Scott Alexander – electric bass
In response to a request from the Joseph R. Smallwood Heritage Foundation, Newfoundland native Terry Kelly, with co-writers Jerry Rideout, Floyd King and Doug Mallory composed “Ties That Bind”.
This composition, as well as a vignette of Joseph Smallwood (provided courtesy of CFCB Radio in Corner Brook, Newfoundland), was recorded on a commemorative cassette in support of a campaign to complete the fifth and final volume of Mr. Smallwood’s Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Terry introduces Joey Smallwood