This Is My Canada

Words and Music By: Jeanette Arsenault

Rocks and plains and visions of trains from sea to sea
Lakes and streams and passionate dreams of a true north strong and free
Mountains of snow, the forest below, hopes and fears
Frozen lands and the rugged hands of Canadian pioneers

CHORUS

This is my Canada, this is my home, my nation
From St. John's to Victoria, this is my, this is my Canada
This is my Canada, Canada
O Canada

Snowbirds and Thunderbirds and fleur-de-lys
Each a part, a work of art within our tapestry
Peacekeeping roles and noble goals spark the fire
The Marathon on Hope lives on and the flames grow higher

CHORUS

Look to the future, learn from the past
Build today and make it last
So much to offer, so much to gain
It takes more than one link to make a chain
So many heroes nationwide
So many hearts filled with pride
There's so much more to share
Let me take you there

CHORUS

I'm A Canadian, Eh

Words and Music By: Jeanette Arsenault

CHORUS

I'm a Canadian, Eh that's all you have to do is say, Eh
It's the Canadian way to say Eh
To be Canadian, is to say Eh, it's so Canadian to say,
"How's it going, eh?"

I went searching for my Canadian identity
To find out what makes me, me
Is it that I treat people so nicely or that I can communicate bilingually
Mais oui, comment ca-va, eh?
What is it that makes us different than the rest?
What is it that we do when we're at our best?
Where do we fit in the global situation
What do people say when they talk about our nation?

We have 10 provinces and 3 territories
We have our share of legends and glories
But what really makes us stand out in a crowd
Is when we say out loud:

CHORUS

Eh is only a 2 letter word
But it can cut whole sentences down by a third
For instance, "Isn't that right? don't you agree?, you don't say?"
Can all be replaced just by saying, Eh
Not only is easy and so simple to do but
It turns out to be quite handy too, you see
We have a great reputation
Wherever we travel when we're on vacation

You can bask in this Canadian praise
If you learn to use this world-famous phrase
In the event you might have missed it before
Here it is once more

CHORUS

Acadian Moon

Words & Music: Jeanette Arsenault

My family ancestry is French Acadian on both sides and I was surrounded and influenced by talented musicians. I thought everyone grew up with music as the common bond. This song was born out of love and pride as a tribute to my Acadian heritage.

Her name was Evangeline, she was the prettiest girl that they'd ever seen
Oh how she loved to dance, the boys would line up waiting for their chance
To twirl her around and round, lift her high up off the ground
Hand in hand, they'd start to swing, she'd begin to sing:

CHORUS

Hey, ho away we go
Play that fiddle and don't you go too slow, oh no
Play me one more tune I want to dance by the light
Of an Acadian Moon

Gabriel stole her heart and promised her no one could keep them apart
Together how they loved to dance and fill up the night with romance
He would twirl her round and round, till her feet were off the ground
Hand in hand, they'd start to swing and she'd begin to sing:

CHORUS

They called it an Acadian moon
'Cause it was like an old familiar tune
Wherever she would roam
It reminded her of home

High up above, the moon shines down on two people in love
Together how they loved to dance and fill up the night with romance
He would twirl her round and round, till her feet were off the ground
Hand in hand, they'd start to swing, she'd begin to sing:

CHORUS

Everyday Heroes

Words & Music: Jeanette Arsenault

This is a song that I wrote to recognize volunteers who put the spirit in community spirit. Apex International, a voluntary organization in Australia adopted this song as their theme for their video and television spots. I dedicate it to the staff and volunteers at Rygiel Home in Hamilton, Ontario who are the guardian angels of my brother, Ronald who has cerebral palsy.

There are heroes you look up to on the movie screen
There are heroes that you read about in magazines
There are those on the talk shows, only out to make a name
Dignity be damned they want that 15 minute fame

You can find heroes wherever you choose
But some will never make it to the 6:00 news
They're just everyday people like me and you
Who open up their hearts and let their love shine through

Oh the everyday hero is someone that you and I know
They're not looking for the glory
Listen to their story

Everyday heroes are angels in disguise
You can feel it in their touch, see it in their eyes
They heal the world in anonymity
They're the spirit of our community

And they've already learned what you know is true
It's not what you say, it's what you do
And they'll do what it takes to get things done
Because they believe in the power of one

Every soul has a song to sing
Let your voices ring
You can count on the everyday hero
Who knows how to listen from the heart

The everyday hero...

At Your Local Hardware Store

Words & Music: Jeanette Arsenault

CHORUS

At your local hardware store, you'll find what you're looking for
One-stop shopping and no hassle
Everything you need to make your home your castle
You'll find all of this and more
At your local hardware store

You'll find a thinga-ma-bopper, a thinga-ma-jig
A whatch-ma-call-it about "yea" big
A doohickey and a thinga-ma-you-know
A whazzit, a whaddat, a gadgetty gizmo
Goggles and toggles and gardening tools
Kettles and metals and swimming pools
A toaster, a coaster, a coffee grinder
And who can live without a studfinder?

CHORUS

So you say you wanna see a saw. I see. Well what kind of saw would you like to see?

Will that be a table or coping or hole or hack, crosscut, sabre, jig or back
Circular, compass, keyhold, hand, rip or cut or chain or band
Power, plywood, carpentry, carver, dovetail, dozuki
Ryobi, veneer or featherweight fret
Or maybe you wanna see a see-saw set?
(Just asking!)

CHORUS

Is that all there is? No &
You'll find flatware, glassware, tableware - everything you need in houseware
You'll find more than you might think including the kitchen sink
Ah, home improvement's such a breeze especially with their expertise
You can't put a price on good advice
It's a do-it-yourselfer's paradise

CHORUS

Women of the World

Text: Jeanette Arsenault

Music: Jeanette Arsenault & Greg Geeves

CHORUS

Hey, hey, hey there woman
Hey, hey, hey there girl
The time has come
There is work to be done
Come on you women of the world
Hey, hey, hey there sister
Hey, hey, hey there friend
Come & walk by my side
Sing out with pride
Come on you women of the world

They say that change is a-coming
They say change is good
You've got to change whatever you can
In the place where you stand

CHORUS

They say the road is so long
They say it's always been
But no matter how deep the roots may be
You've still got to shake that tree

CHORUS

Josephine, Acadian Queen

Text: Jeanette Arsenault

Music: Jeanette Arsenault

We came from all points, north, south, east and west
We gathered up our memories to share with all the rest
Together we joined hearts to honour your name
Oh Josephine, you're the reason we came

CHORUS

Oh Josephine you left a rich legacy
I am who I am
Because of who you were to me
You gave us roots and gave us wings
And all your love in between
Oh Josephine, Acadian Queen

La, la, la

A family is as strong as the ties that bind
A legacy lives on through the ones left behind
I can only hope to do half as much as you
For my children, too

CHORUS

Les Héroïnes

Text: Jeanette Arsenault

Music: Jeanette Arsenault

Qui fut Marguerite Bourgeois et Mère Marie d'Youvillle
Qu'ont-elles fait ces femmes-là pour se rendre utile
Qui fut Madeleine de Verchères et Jeanne Mance l'infirmière?

Refrain :

Nous avions pourtant commencé sur un bon pied
Les premières arrivées étaient des femmes libérées
Elles ont laissé leurs noms à l'histoire du pays
Quelles sont celles d'entre nous qui le font aujourd'hui?
Badumdumda,badedadededum &.

Marguerite Bourgeois mis les fondations pour les soeurs de la Congrégation
Mère Marie d'Youville a organisé les Soeurs grises de la Charité
Pensez-vous qu'elles se sont amusées avec les garçons
Mais non elles ont ramassé des millions

REFRAIN

Si vous pensez qu'en temps de guerre
Les premières arrivées se cachaient dans leurs chaumières
Vous oubliez mes bien chers frères notre héroine Madeleine de Verchères
C'est elle qui combatit les Iroquois quand les hommes étaient cachés dans les bois

REFRAIN

J'pourrais continuer ce n'ai pas fini
Marie de l'Incarnation Madame de la Peltrie
Agathe St-Père toutes les Filles du Roy
Madame de la Tour Katéri Tékakwitha
Qui avons-nous eu depuis ce temps-là?
L'enfant martyr et pis Donalda!

REFRAIN

Arise

Text: Jeanette Arsenault

Music: Jeanette Arsenault & Greg Geeves

Based on Psalm 17

I co-wrote 11 Psalms For September 11 with Suzanne Pasternak as a tribute to the 24 Canadians who lost their lives in New York. It was written in 4 Movements: The Attack, The Search, Courage, Hope

CHORUS

Arise Arise Arise Arise
O Lord Arise
Arise O Lord, Arise

Hear the right O Lord, attend unto my cry
Give ear unto my prayer
Give ear unto my prayer

CHORUS

Let my words come forth when Thou art near
Let Thine eyes behold all things
Behold, behold all things

CHORUS

Keep me O Lord as the apple of The eye
Hide me 'neath the shadow of Thy wings
Beneath the shadow of Thy wings

CHORUS

Descant:

And as for me O Lord, I will behold Thy face
In righteousness O Lord
Arise O Lord and I will be satisfied
O Lord when I awake
To see Thee face to face
O Lord Arise Arise

Angel In Disguise

Music: Jeanette Arsenault

I heard Stephen Lewis speak on Vicki Gabereau's television show about the worldwide devastation facing women who are suffering with AIDS. I wrote this song to give a voice to all women around the world who face unspeakable hardships.

She's a Mother, she's a girl
She's a babe in arms, somewhere in this world
She is frightened, you can see it in her eyes
Long forgotten under Asian skies

She's a sister, she's a niece
She's searching for answers and longing for peace
She is dying, but when she cries
Her voice goes unheard under African skies

CHORUS

She's an Angel In Disguise
God is watching us through her eyes
She reminds us love is not confined
By the borders we've fixed in our mind

She's a junkie, she is pure
She doesn't know how much more she can endure
She's been ravaged by a lifetime of lies
Used and abused under Russian skies

She is young, she is old
She fears for the child she can no longer hold
And her numbers are on the rise
She's hidden away under Indian skies

CHORUS

"A butterfly beats its wings in the jungles of Brazil
and a storm rages over the Arctic tundra.
Everything is inter-connected.
Nothing is insignificant.
We have the power to change anything.
God is watching us through her eyes.
She's an angel in disguise."

Will I Know You

Music: Jeanette Arsenault

I keep a file filled with inspirational passages from various sources and every once in a while, I read through them. Sometimes a song emerges right before my very eyes, like this one did.

I had a dream last night
Though to me it seemed so real
A voice whispered He had a message to reveal
He spoke softly in my ear
But His words were loud and clear

CHORUS

Will I know you when I see your face on judgment day
Will I know you when I hear your voice as you pray
When I look into your heart
Will I know you

He said, "I have spoken to many
But few have taken heed"
"I am moved by your faith
More than your need"
You must abide in Me
Constantly

CHORUS

Live in My word, by My word, through My word

CHORUS

I Believe in You

Words & Music: Jeanette Arsenault

In 1994, I gave birth to both Katie and my first album, From The Heart. I wrote this song for her because I believe it's important that our children learn how to listen to their inner voice and to trust their instincts.

I believe in God and in the heavenly light
I believe that angels guide us through the night
I believe that love will see us through
And God knows, I believe in you

A river runs to the ocean as fast as it can
We are all part of a bigger plan
And in troubled waters, I know you'll pull through
Oh God knows, I believe in you

CHORUS

Don't wait to see what tomorrow brings
Learn to fly on your own wings
Remember whenever you don't know what to do
Everything's right there inside of you

Every generation is a product of the last
Stumbling through the darkness, in the shadow of the past
But I can see your light come shining through
Oh God knows, I believe in you

When you are torn and broken in two
Listen to your heart and what it's telling you
Don't worry you'll make it through
Oh God knows, I believe in you

CHORUS

I believe in God...

Jesus Walked With Me

Words: Donna Thurston
Music: Jeanette Arsenault

When Donna permanently injured her back in a car accident, she said these words came to her over the course of two nights lying in the hospital bed. As I set her words to music, I realized how much I admire her strength, courage and determination. We agreed that all proceeds based on this song will be donated to the Hotel Dieu Hospital's Orthopaedic Foundation in Kingston.

I was touched by an angel
Held hands with a saint
I was bathed by the Holy
And risen from the pain

CHORUS

Jesus walked with me
Even though I could not see
Jesus walked with me
Hoping that one day I would see

I found love in a stranger
I found strength in a friend
I found hope for the future
And faith in the end

CHORUS

I found comfort in His presence
And meaning in His words
I found forgiveness in the asking
And truth is what I heard

CHORUS

My Daughter, My Friend

Words: Jeanette Arsenault & Carolyn Grondin Music: Jeanette Arsenault

Carolyn wrote a very moving poem as a tribute to her daughter, Cara, for her wedding. My stepdaughter, Polly and my daughter Katie were my inspiration in writing this song based on her poem. Both my daughters have taught me more than I'll ever be able to teach them.

CHORUS

My daughter, my friend you will always be A part of my life, a part of me Like a circle unbroken, it will never end You will always be my daughter, my friend

From the time you were born, oh it seems like yesterday You stole my heart and you took my breath away With a cry in your voice and without a single word You knew how to be heard

CHORUS

No matter how far you may fly Or where life may lead you as time goes by Remember this, my daughter, my friend Our love has no end

CHORUS

I, Mother Earth

Words & Music: Jeanette Arsenault

I wrote this song for Alternatives For Women to remind women of the strength we all possess inside. It may be suppressed, dormant or forgotten but it's always ready to rise up out of the ashes when awakened and remembered.

I, Mother Earth, giver of life
I, Mother Earth, lover and wife
I, Mother Earth, nurturing friend
Solid as a rock, yet able to bend

I, Mother Earth, source of love
I, Mother Earth, draw my strength from above
I, Mother Earth, born to live
Born to want it all, to take and to give

I may get down but I'm never out
I will always rise from the depths of doubt
And when I feel every shade of blue
I know this light of mine will come shining through

I, Mother Earth, hold up half the sky
I, Mother Earth, cast a watchful eye
I, Mother Earth, embrace our young
And give them a voice for their song yet unsung

I, Mother Earth, source of love
I, Mother Earth, draw my strength from above
I, Mother Earth, born to live
Born to want it all, to take and to give

Acadian Moon

Words & Music: Jeanette Arsenault

My family ancestry is French Acadian on both sides and I was surrounded and influenced by talented musicians. I thought everyone grew up with music as the common bond. This song was born out of love and pride as a tribute to my Acadian heritage.

Her name was Evangeline, she was the prettiest girl that they'd ever seen
Oh how she loved to dance, the boys would line up waiting for their chance
To twirl her around and round, lift her high up off the ground
Hand in hand, they'd start to swing, she'd begin to sing:

CHORUS

Hey, ho away we go
Play that fiddle and don't you go too slow, oh no
Play me one more tune I want to dance by the light
Of an Acadian Moon

Gabriel stole her heart and promised her no one could keep them apart
Together how they loved to dance and fill up the night with romance
He would twirl her round and round, till her feet were off the ground
Hand in hand, they'd start to swing and she'd begin to sing:

CHORUS

They called it an Acadian moon
'Cause it was like an old familiar tune
Wherever she would roam
It reminded her of home

High up above, the moon shines down on two people in love
Together how they loved to dance and fill up the night with romance
He would twirl her round and round, till her feet were off the ground
Hand in hand, they'd start to swing, she'd begin to sing:

CHORUS

Everyday Heroes

Words & Music: Jeanette Arsenault

This is a song that I wrote to recognize volunteers who put the spirit in community spirit. Apex International, a voluntary organization in Australia adopted this song as their theme for their video and television spots. I dedicate it to the staff and volunteers at Rygiel Home in Hamilton, Ontario who are the guardian angels of my brother, Ronald who has cerebral palsy.

There are heroes you look up to on the movie screen
There are heroes that you read about in magazines
There are those on the talk shows, only out to make a name
Dignity be damned they want that 15 minute fame

You can find heroes wherever you choose
But some will never make it to the 6:00 news
They're just everyday people like me and you
Who open up their hearts and let their love shine through

Oh the everyday hero is someone that you and I know
They're not looking for the glory
Listen to their story

Everyday heroes are angels in disguise
You can feel it in their touch, see it in their eyes
They heal the world in anonymity
They're the spirit of our community

And they've already learned what you know is true
It's not what you say, it's what you do
And they'll do what it takes to get things done
Because they believe in the power of one

Every soul has a song to sing
Let your voices ring
You can count on the everyday hero
Who knows how to listen from the heart

The everyday hero...

Falling In Love With You

Words & Music: Jeanette Arsenault

I wrote this song for my husband Michael while fall was in full splendour back in 1993.

Fall how I love the fall
The beauty of it all lingers on my mind
Leaves a tapestry of leaves
That Mother Nature weaves into ties that bind

Watching trees changing hue
While I'm holding you
You tell me that you love me too

CHORUS

Fall, how I love the fall
And the best part of all
Is falling in love with you

Skies, ever changing skies
Echoing goodbyes of wings in flight
Trees, a symphony of trees
Playing in the breeze in the lingering light

Colours dancing high above
You and I so much in love
I just can't get enough of you

CHORUS