EDNA STAR - ballad for Canada's Ukrainian Pioneer settlers

Baritone Christopher Dunham leads in this powerful ballad 'Edna Star', commemorating the 120th anniversary of Ukrainian Pioneer settlement in Canada. This super performance was held at the Bloor West Village Toronto Ukrainian Festival on Sept.17, 2011. Lyrics by Steve Andrusiak (on drums), music by Igor Zhylyak (on the bayan), also with Carissa Klopoushak on fiddle, Brian Cherwick on the tsymbaly-cimbalom, Roman Beley on bass, and vocals by Theresa Sokyrka. 'Една' i 'Стар': цe назви перших двох поселень Українців в Канаді. ♪ ♪♫ ♪♫ ♪♫ ♪♪ ♪♫ ♪♫ ♪♫ ♪ My friend and I, we're all alone. His wife, my girl - they're both back home. A fertile land, a brand new start, We'll work so hard so far apart. I pray each night. I love my girl. She'll follow me to this new world. We'll lift the rocks and plant our dreams We'll grow our wheat; get off our knees. O Edna Star, How sweet you are. Our new land's here, Ukraine's so far. We left the steppes: U - kra - i - na To make our homes in Canada There's lots of wood, the forest's so deep. Near Edna Star, we'll earn our keep. Our neighbours' farms are up the road. They'll need a hand. We'll share their load. Not all went well... Internment... Hate... But time heals wounds - we'll integrate. With glowing hearts let's sing our songs. We'll make new friends and right the wrongs O Edna Star, How sweet you are. Our new land's here, Ukraine's so far. We left the steppes: U - kra - i - na To make our homes in Canada We paid our debts. We opened doors. We sacrificed. We fought in wars. "MNOHI LITA": Live many years! Let's nurture joy and banish fears. Know who you are and keep God's faith Embrace new cultures; share, debate. Twelve decades passed, we bless the years Shevchenko's children: Pioneers! O Edna Star, How sweet you are. Our home is here; Ukraine's so far. They did it all. We stand in awe. They came and helped build Canada. Една і Стар: перші села Де розцвилась наша сім'я. Відважились стелити шлях. Браво Пилипів і Єлиняк Ідуть роки. Женуть часи. Лишаєм тільки спогади. Сто-двадцять літ ми тут росли, Шевченка діти: Козаки! О Канада: наша земля Даруймо її наші серця Не забуваймо хто ми є Любімся, вчімся на віки. ♪ ♪♫ ♪♫ ♪♫ ♪ ♪ ♪♫ ♪♫ ♪♫ ♪ - Visit the Toronto Ukrainian Festival site at: http://www.ukrainianfestival.com/ Make plans to stop by in 2013! -