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Many years have gone by since I left my Fortune Bay home,
Full of dreams and ambitions, as a young man I wanted to roam;
But now things are different, I'm older and wiser, I guess,
And I love to return to the homeland that I love the best.
My friends and relations, I miss them more every day,
And in dreams, I go back to my childhood in old Fortune Bay;
I see a picture of Iron Skull, and it brings a tear to my eye,
For I know, she stands guard over the birthplace of this Newfie boy.
And I leave Bishops Falls, headin' down that Bay D'Espoir Road,
There's a lump in my throat, son, 'cause I know I'm headin' home;
And when I reach St. Jacques, I know everything is alright,
I got two miles to go and I'll be in Belleoram tonight.
That old Fishermen's Lodge is now a modern day home,
The roads, they are paved, and the old fishing schooners are gone;
And the old church looks the same as it did when I sang in the choir,
The Orange Lodge gave its music to the lounge on the government wharf.
The dories made way for the faster and modern speed boat,
As you walk around town, you'll not see a sheep, cow, or goat;
The steamers don't call here, they are a thing of the past,
Now, it's phone-home visits, my things are changing so fast.
And I leave Bishops Falls, headin' down that Bay D'Espoir Road,
There's a lump in my throat, son, 'cause I know I'm headin' home;
And when I reach St. Jacques, I know everything is alright,
I got two miles to go and I'll be in Belleoram tonight.
My memories may fail me, but I feel like a king when I say,
I'm a proud Newfoundlander from Belleoram, down in old Fortune Bay.
Johnny Drake, along with Tom Rose of Bay du Nord, NL, co-founded The Dorymen in 1969.
Iron Skull is the highest mountain in Fortune Bay, NL. A two-hour hike to the summit begins in Belleoram where a spectacular view of Fortune Bay and the surrounding area awaits.
