Mike Ford - Sir John A
This song contains some great detail our first Prime Minister and the challenge of Confederation.
SIR JOHN A (YOU’RE O.K)
Words & Music: Mike Ford
from the album “Canada Needs You - vol. 1” – MapleMusicRecordings
In the mid-1800’s the political situation in B.N.A. was straining...
Annexationist favour was gaining, and in the South,
a horrible bloodbath known as the Civil War was raining
Would this insatiable appetite turn north towards the seperate colonies?
Some began speaking of a new option called Confederation
And although not initially a cheerleader of the plan,
One man emerged as its central architect architect architect
SIR JOHN A...YOU’RE O.K...
TELL ME WHAT WOULD YOU SAY
IF YOU WERE HERE TODAY
In Charlettown and Quebec City the leaders debated the new plan
Political deadlock between Canada East & West would be broken
Reciprocity between the colonies would be awoken
And the sharing between have and have-not provinces would be much more than just a token
While civil war blood continued to spill,some feared loss of influence, loss of local power,
loss of culture, loss of ties to England
One man alone knew we needed a strong central government,
w/ Residual Powers Residual Powers Residual Powers
SIR JOHN A...YOU’RE O.K...TELL ME WHAT WOULD YOU SAY
IF YOU WERE HERE TODAY
OH OH OH OLD TOMORROW OH OH OH CAN I BORROW OLD TOMORROW
JUST AN OUNCE OF YOUR GREAT STAMINA AND SKILL...That would be a thrill
The delegation went to London, England to finalize the preparations...
All went well except for one minor crisis... Sir John A, always fond of a tipple or six,
took to bed with a book, a bottle and a candle - he nodded off...
FATE INTERVENED as he awoke to the the smell of fire!
The curtains were on fire! The bed was on fire! Even his hair was on fire fire fire
Back home on July 1st, 1867 a new nation celebrates its birth
Sir John A rolls up his sleeves -there’s much work to be done
There were regions to appease, budgets to squeeze factions to please,
And a prairie to seize but most of all...The railroad!
Work of the iron road took more than 15 years of backbreaking, sometimes fatal labour...
And in the corridors of power, it took
WHEELING, DEALING, BESEECHING, PREACHING, PRAYING, DELAYING
And scandal scandal scandal scandal
One man had the wherewithall to ride the wild roller-coaster to its completion
SIR JOHN A...YOU’RE O.K...
TELL ME WHAT WOULD YOU SAY
IF YOU WERE HERE TODAY
SIR JOHN A (YOU’RE O.K)
Words & Music: Mike Ford
from the album “Canada Needs You - vol. 1” – MapleMusicRecordings
In the mid-1800’s the political situation in B.N.A. was straining...
Annexationist favour was gaining, and in the South,
a horrible bloodbath known as the Civil War was raining
Would this insatiable appetite turn north towards the seperate colonies?
Some began speaking of a new option called Confederation
And although not initially a cheerleader of the plan,
One man emerged as its central architect architect architect
SIR JOHN A...YOU’RE O.K...
TELL ME WHAT WOULD YOU SAY
IF YOU WERE HERE TODAY
In Charlettown and Quebec City the leaders debated the new plan
Political deadlock between Canada East & West would be broken
Reciprocity between the colonies would be awoken
And the sharing between have and have-not provinces would be much more than just a token
While civil war blood continued to spill,some feared loss of influence, loss of local power,
loss of culture, loss of ties to England
One man alone knew we needed a strong central government,
w/ Residual Powers Residual Powers Residual Powers
SIR JOHN A...YOU’RE O.K...TELL ME WHAT WOULD YOU SAY
IF YOU WERE HERE TODAY
OH OH OH OLD TOMORROW OH OH OH CAN I BORROW OLD TOMORROW
JUST AN OUNCE OF YOUR GREAT STAMINA AND SKILL...That would be a thrill
The delegation went to London, England to finalize the preparations...
All went well except for one minor crisis... Sir John A, always fond of a tipple or six,
took to bed with a book, a bottle and a candle - he nodded off...
FATE INTERVENED as he awoke to the the smell of fire!
The curtains were on fire! The bed was on fire! Even his hair was on fire fire fire
Back home on July 1st, 1867 a new nation celebrates its birth
Sir John A rolls up his sleeves -there’s much work to be done
There were regions to appease, budgets to squeeze factions to please,
And a prairie to seize but most of all...The railroad!
Work of the iron road took more than 15 years of backbreaking, sometimes fatal labour...
And in the corridors of power, it took
WHEELING, DEALING, BESEECHING, PREACHING, PRAYING, DELAYING
And scandal scandal scandal scandal
One man had the wherewithall to ride the wild roller-coaster to its completion
SIR JOHN A...YOU’RE O.K...
TELL ME WHAT WOULD YOU SAY
IF YOU WERE HERE TODAY
