FOUR STRONG WINDS

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featuring the West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir directed by Tony Funk – recording available – click here

featuring Chor Leoni Men’s Choir on tour (director: Diane Loomer)

This is Ian Tyson’s beloved Canadian folksong, about life in southern Alberta – love and loss. Men and women take turns carrying the melody while the piano emulates the guitar.
Nickel’s arrangement has been presented by honour choirs at PODIUM and ACDA conventions.

LYRICS

Four strong winds that blow lonely,
seven seas that run high;
all those things that don’t change – come what may.
But our good times are all gone,
and I’m bound for moving on.
I’ll look for you if I’m ever back this way.

Think I’ll go out to Alberta,
Weather’s good there in the fall.
I got some friends that I can go to workin’ for,
Still I wish you’d change your mind
If I’d ask you one more time,
But we’ve been through that a hundred times or more.

Refrain

If I get there before the snow flies,
And if things are looking good,
You could meet me if I sent you down the fare.
But by then it would be winter
there’s not too much for you to do
And those winds, they sure blow cold way out there.

Four strong winds that blow lonely,
seven seas that run high;
all those things that don’t change – come what may.
But our good times are all gone,
and I’m bound for moving on.
I’ll look for you if I’m ever back this way.