O -[G/B]le -a – na, via Del No[E7+]rte, O [C/E]Canada

It was snowtime, it was showtime, it was no time
To be lost in [B/D#]downtown Toro[D/F#]nto
It was wintertime, ‘round dinnertime
I’m beginning to see that the sunshine [C/E]just doesn’t want to

From a side street come a backbeat
Pulling on me like the moon pullin’ [B/D#]on the tide[D/F#]
Ay caramba, one-note samba, la la la la bamba
Lighting me [C/E]up inside

They had the heat of the sun in the beat of the talking drum
The light of a tropical moon on a night to remember
Someone summoned up summer just strumming on an old guitar
And every note was the antidote to December

My first impression, some kind of procession
Pulling on a long line of [B/D#]fancy dance[D/F#]rs
And a band stuck up on a flatbed truck
They were raising a ruckus swinging [C/E]for the fences

Exiled Mexican textile working
Punching two clocks, sending two [B/D#]paychecks home, [D/F#]boys
Hard working law ‘biding bus riding people
Celebration on wheels [C/E]destination unknown

It was the heat of the sun in the beat of that talking drum
The light of a tropical moon on a night to remember
Someone summoned up summer just strumming on an old guitar
Yes, and every note was the antidote to December
Ri-[G/B]o Grande
O-le-a-[E7+]na
Vi-a Del No[C/E]rte
Oh Canada

[C#/E#] [E/G#]
[D/F#] [D/E]
There was a lifeline south in the song coming from her mouth
It swallowed me up and I followed it on downtown
In the light of dawn the message that life goes on
For the frozen man an invitation to live again
It was the heat of the sun in the beat of that talking drum
The light of a tropical moon on a night to remember
Someone summoned up summer just strumming on an old guitar
And every note, the antidote to December
They were shakin’ it loose with the juice from the mambo man
Long lanky Yankee boy, Buckwheat and Spanky, my-my

Santiago de Cuba
Belo Horizonte
Cartagena
Guaguanco Canada
Guaguanco Canada
Santiago de Cuba
Belo Horizonte
Cartagena
Guaguanco Canada
Guaguanco Canada

Guaguanco Canada…

Intro:

[-]

Verse 1:

Today, today, today
I’m finally on my way[-]
The time has come to say
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye

Verse 2:

The bird is on the wing
The bell is about to ring[-]
The big girl she’s about to sing
Today, today, today

Bridge:

The world will open wide
And I’m running with the tide
It’s time to cut this side
And I must not miss my ride

Interlude:

[-]

Bridge 2:

Somehow I haven’t died
And I feel the same inside
As when I caught this ride
When first I sold my pride

Verse 3:

The way ahead is clear
My heart is free from fear[-]
I’ll plant my flag right here
Today, today, today

[D/F#]And we’ll all go together
To pick wild mountain thyme
All around the purple heather,
Will you go lassie, will you go?

[D/F#]I will build my love a bower
By yon pure and crystal fountain,
Yes and on it I will lay
All the flowers of[D/F#] the mountain.
Will you go lassie, will you go?

[D/F#]And we’ll all go together
To pick wild mountain thyme
All around the purple heather,
Will you go lassie, will you go?

Interlude

If my [D/F#]true love won’t come with me,
I will surely find another
To pick wild mountain thyme
All around the blo[D/F#]oming heather
Will you go lassie, will you go?

[D/F#]And we’ll all go together
To pick wild mountain thyme
All around the purple heather,
Will you go oh will you go lassie, will you go?