The Ballad Of St. Anne's Reel

He was standing in some tiny town

On fair Prince Edward Island

Waiting for a ship to come and find him

A one horse place, a friendly face,

Some coffee and a tiny trace

Of fiddling in the distance far behind them

A dime across the counter then

A shy hello, a brand new friend

A walk along the street in the wint'ry weather

A yellow light, an open door,

A welcome friend, there's room for more

Soon they're standing there inside together

He said I heard that tune before somewhere

But I can't remember when

Was it on some other friendly shore

Did I hear it on the wind

Was it written on the sky above

I think I heard it from someone I love

But I never heard it sound so sweet since then

Now his feet begin to tap

A little boy says I'll take your hat

He's caught up in the magic of his smile

Then leaps the heart inside him

When on and off across the floor

He sends his clumsy body graceful as a child

He says there's magic in the fiddler's arms

There's magic in this town

There's magic in the dancers' feet

And the way they put them down

Smiling people everywhere

Boots and ribbons and locks of hair

Laughter and old blue suits and Easter gowns

Now the sailor's gone, the room is bare

The old piano's sitting there

Someone's hat's left hanging on the rack

Some empty chairs, a wooden floor

That feels the touch of shoes no more

Waiting for the dancers to come back

And the fiddle's in the closet

Of some daughter of the town

The strings are broke and the bow is gone

And the case is buttoned down

But often on December nights

When the air is cold and the wind is right

For the melody comes passing through this town