On the northeast tip of North America
On an island called Newfoundland
There's an airport
It used to be one of the biggest airports in the world
And next to it is a town called Gander
Welcome to the rock if you come from away
You probably understand about a half of what we say
They say no man's an island, but an island makes a man
Especially when one comes from one like Newfoundland
Welcome to the rock
That mornin', I'm in the classroom
It's our first day back and the school buses are on strike
So, I'm covering for Anette who's runnin' late
(Sorry Buela, how's the kids?)
Not exactly thrilled to be inside on such a gorgeous day
So, I told 'em we'd only have a half day this mornin'
And they were quite pleased
Until I told 'em we'd have the other half in the afternoon
Welcome to the wildest weather that you've ever heard of
Where everyone is nice here, but it's never nice above
Welcome to the farthest place you'll get from Disneyland
Fish and chips and shipwrecks, this is Newfoundland
Welcome to the rock
I'm an islander, I am an islander
I'm an islander, I am an islander
I'm an islander, I am an islander
I'm an islander, I am an islander
That mornin', I'm in my car
The kids cross Airport Boulevard to get to school
And that time of day, people are in a little bit of a rush
To get to work and stuff
So, normally, I sit there and run my radar
And if they're speedin', I'll stop 'em
And write out a warnin' ticket
I'll write S-T-F-D, slow the fuck down
Welcome to the land where the winters try to kill us
And we said, we will not be killed
Welcome to the land where the waters try to drown us
And we said, we will not be drowned
Welcome to the land where we lost our loved ones
And we said, we will still go on
Welcome to the land where the winds try to blow
And we said, no
That morning, I dropped my kids off at school
And head to the SVCA where I'm greeted by my other kids
All barking and meowing for breakfast and a belly rub
Not that I'm complaining, I loves 'em
But by the time feeding is done
I got to get back to pick up my human kids
So, I take just one second for myself and I'm sittin' in my car
(I'm in the library, I'm in the staffroom, and I turn on the radio)
You are here at the start of a moment
On the edge of the world
Where the river meets the sea
Here on the edge of the Atlantic
On an island in between there and here
I'm loadin' my radar when Bonnie comes by
She pulls up and she is wavin' at me like mad
So, I roll down my window and she says
(Boss, turn on the radio)
Slow it down, Bonnie
(Jesus H.S., turn on your radio)
Where our story starts (it's my first day at the station)
Where we'll end the night (I'm gettin' coffee for the picket line)
Where we know by heart (five minutes till my smoke break)
Every single flight (I'm off to work at the airport)
Welcome to the fog, welcome to the trees
To the ocean and the sky and whatever's in between
To the one's who've left, you're never truly gone
A candle's in the window and the candle's always on
When the sun is coming up and the world has come ashore
If you're hoping for a harbor, then you'll find an open door
In the winter, from the water through whatever's in the way
To the ones who will come from away
Welcome to the rock
