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Bridging Borders

by Christophe Elie

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1.
Two Feathers 03:52
Each day I walk the CN Railway line Between your world and mine That day I came upon two feathers Each different from the other In my mind I saw an eagle glide Over streams and borderlines Two cultures side by side One future to decide On the wing of an eagle Sits this land and its people Alone one culture can survive But one feather with another flies And as I walked I thought About your world and mine The struggles, the pain Since the bison filled the plains From the hill to the crown A message spoken clear and loud Honour the treaties, the history Is the truth so hard to see The space between our rivers is just sand If I reach across will you take my hand Thousands of tears for those lost years The eighth fire is lit The time is near Perhaps that day it was a sign Two feathers on the borderline A birds gift of hope and peace Respect for us to reach And with each step I realize It's time I cross the railway line And now I see It starts with me On the wing of an eagle Sits this land and its people Alone our cultures can survive But one feather with another flies
2.
Seize the Moment The earth shakes I’m wide-awake The walls are coming down I can’t take a breath In the face of death I lay here on the ground My home is in ruins Can I rise to my knees Seize the moment Let go of the fear The time is now The place is here Stone by stone I re-build my home My feet back on the floor With my own two hands I’ll work the land Change the life that I know Break from this shadow In to the light Seize the moment Let go of the fear The time is now The place is here Seize the moment Don’t shed another tear The time is now The place is here Every step that I take Each stumble each stride Reminds me every day Seize the moment Let go of the fear The time is now The place is here Seize the moment Don’t shed another tear The time is now The place is here
3.
Seize the Moment The earth shakes I’m wide-awake The walls are coming down I can’t take a breath In the face of death I lay here on the ground My home is in ruins Can I rise to my knees Seize the moment Let go of the fear The time is now The place is here Stone by stone I re-build my home My feet back on the floor With my own two hands I’ll work the land Change the life that I know Break from this shadow In to the light Seize the moment Let go of the fear The time is now The place is here Seize the moment Don’t shed another tear The time is now The place is here Every step that I take Each stumble each stride Reminds me every day Seize the moment Let go of the fear The time is now The place is here Seize the moment Don’t shed another tear The time is now The place is here
4.
La Belle Province Mon nom est Suzanne Je suis née à Montréal Ma famille a émigrée au Canada Quand j’ai complété mes études en médecine J’ai pris un poste à la ville de Québec La Belle Province je me souviens La liberté est ce qu’on l’a oubliée Comment ça se fait qu’on ne se souvient pas Notre histoire, le voyage, notre Québec Chaque matin je sors ma tête couverte avec un voile d’or Sa me rappelle ma famille, mon histoire, mon identité Et je suis Québécoise, ma tête, mes pieds à mes doigts Ma culture, mon futur, mon Québec La Belle Province je me souviens La liberté est-ce qu’on l’a oubliée Comment ça se fait qu’on ne se souvient pas Notre histoire, le voyage, notre Québec Aujourd’hui on a le choix, La charte ou nos droits Respect pour nos différences C'est une province uni Parce que on est Québécois et Canadien toi et moi Un drapeau, un voyage, Une planète
5.
Firekeeper 03:50
Firekeeper I left my home in Whitby For a tour in Kandahar I’ll serve my country My country serves us all I’ll survive I know I will I’m guided by my heart Light a candle it will guide my way Don’t let the flame go out Keepers of the fire, the wind is blowing hard Guard the candle from the night Don’t let the flame go out Now we walk this ancient land We look down from above Try to extend a helping hand down the barrel of a gun Children smile as we pass by from the elders a suspicious eye I serve my country and myself My brothers do your part Keepers of the fire The wind is blowing hard Guard the candle from the night Protect the flame If a country takes its youth to war A soldier’s trust to hold is yours Lives entrusted in our hands Don’t leave their fate to chance Then came that fateful day, we rode out at dawn Charlie at my right hand drove east towards the sun That day no children lined the drive I never got to say goodbye Today I die please wonder why My brothers follow your heart Keepers of the fire, the wind is blowing hard Guard the candle from the night, Hold it high let it shine it’s light Guide the candle through the night Don’t let the flame go out
6.
Cobblestone Road As I look back to my tender years My life it lay before me, no obstacles, no fear As it all unfolded, the months became years I learned to embrace uncertain skies, the laughter with the tears Cobblestone road I laid each one of these cobblestones Friends and family, my comfort in the night Offering guidance, a lantern’s light And when the darkness became too much to bear You always saw me through, I always felt you there In every life there’s uncertainty Is this where I ought to be But you clench your fist and steer your pride Believe in yourself, let your spirit be your guide And now the shadows of life are growing long And I reflect on the journey so far A sense of comfort, a sense of pride The colours now are cast The canvas defined Cobblestone road This cobblestone road This life is what I made it It’s the story I wove Cobblestone road, this cobblestone road I weighed each one of these.. I carried each one of these.. I laid each one of these cobblestones, cobblestones, cobblestones..
7.
Mirrors 03:38
8.
A Soldier's Face The soldier is a shell A shell of metal medals The soldier is the messenger Of a country's deadly message The soldier is a trained killer The soldier's eye is trained On an enemy pre-defined Our blackest fears framed The soldier carries out The orders of a few The soldier's hands are tied By a flag's blood white and blue The soldier's flesh and blood Is spent on the battlefield War's currency The years of our youth we steal A soldier has a face A soldier's heart is not unknown It's their heart we all must face Can we bear to face our own?
9.
Can you see me? I fled my village As the flames began to rise Looking back Tears filled my eyes Just the clothes on my back Father's ring to remind me Of the life left behind In to this world I disappear I disappear just like the stars Like stars that fade in the morning light Can you see me? I'm still here On an overcrowded boat Desperate and weary Adrift At the mercy of the sea No food, No water Struggling for my life Somehow I survived In to this world I disappear I disappear just like the stars Like stars that fade in the morning light Can you see me? I'm still here Are you out there.. Can you hear me? Now I I'm a refugee My family, my village Far behind me I walk alone I search for home By the light Of the stars in the sky In to this world I disappear I disappear just like the stars Like stars that fade in the morning light Can you see me?
10.
Barack Hussein Obama August 4 1961 A day like any other On an island, a child was born His name Barack Obama His father left home His elders opened the door to a diversity of culture He wrote that one day the highest oath he’d take A boy’s dream for tomorrow Barack Hussein Obama We see the best of us in you Barak Hussein Obama We pass this torch Light the path We’ll help see you through October 3 1992 A day to remember What once was one, now is two A partner for forever From the Ivy League to the windy streets In Roseland Parish you rose to your feet Sharing in the lives of those on the street Bold steps towards a dream You asked: Are we ready to stand? We said: Yes we can Ready to sacrifice? We said: yes we can You said: Can you believe? We said: yes we can Hold on to the dream November 4, 2008 A day unlike no other A day of mourning, a day of faith The long road to tomorrow The winds of change rose up from the streets The streets of a nation A new foundation under our feet Hope for tomorrow President Obama We see the best of us in you Barack Hussein Obama We pass this torch, light the path We pass this torch, free at last We pass the torch, light the path We’ll help see you through
11.
Punk Prayer 02:06
Punk Prayer Virgin Mary Mother of God Put Putin away, Put Putin away Black robe, epaulettes, all parishioners crawl to bow Phantom of liberty is heaven, Gay pride banished to Siberia KGB head’s your saint, leads protesters to jail To please his holiness, Women must give birth and love Virgin Mary Mother of God Become an activist, Become a feminist Virgin Mary Mother of God Put Putin away, Put Putin away Church’s kiss the dictator, Cross-bearers in black cars Preacher teachers in the schools Children must pay to play Gundyaev believes in Putin, bitch you better believe in god A chastity belt won’t stop the meetings this is a protest from the mother of God Virgin Mary Mother of God Become an activist, Become a feminist Virgin Mary Mother of God Put Harper away, Put Putin away Adapted from, Lyrics by Pussy Riot

about

Bridging Borders explores the beauty and challenges of the intersections of culture, geography, religion and language that surround us. The songs consider Canadian Indigenous relations, immigration, the history of this land, the Charter of Quebec values and free speech.

credits

released June 5, 2016

Co-produced by Dave Draves
Recorded at Little Bullhorn Studios in Ottawa
Mastered at Grey Market Studios
Artwork and Design Jacqueline Levesque

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Christophe Elie Ottawa, Ontario

Plugging in an electric guitar as a 16-year-old kid growing up, the visceral, compelling storytelling of folk-rock has reverberated through his music ever since.
Noted for his passionate performances and rugged vocal style, Elie’s music is writerly, invigorating and, perhaps most important of all, utterly compelling whilst challenging the listener with its message.
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