Four Strong Winds

Listen while you read: Four Strong Winds

Think I'll go out to Alberta, weather's good there in the fall
I got some friends that I could go working for
Still I wish you'd change your mind
If I asked you one more time
But we've been through this a hundred times or more

Four strong winds that blow lonely, seven seas that run high
All those things that don't change, come what may
If the good times are all gone, and I'm bound for moving on
I'll look for you if I'm ever back this way

If I get there before the snow flies, and if things are looking good
You could meet me if I sent you down the fare
But by then it would be winter
Not too much for you to do
And those winds sure can blow cold way out there

Four strong winds . . . 

~  Ian Tyson

This song dates back to the folk music 60s. It was written by Canadian Ian Tyson and initially recorded by Ian and Sylvia, but it's been covered by many artists, most notably, Canadian Neil Young. I chose Neil's cover for this post because, well, because it's Neil. He included it on Comes a Time, the 1978 release that returned him to his Harvest roots. In 2005, Canadian radio listeners voted "Four Strong Winds" the greatest Canadian song of all time.

Sure, it's a break-up song, but that's certainly not why I chose it. Think I'll go out to Alberta. Yesterday, we spent our last day and night in British Columbia and today, we will head to Alberta, land of mountains, prairies, desert badlands, and coniferous forests. The province has 600 lakes, rich mineral deposits, and famous national parks. The Continental Divide runs through the Canadian Rockies, and the Columbia Icefields boast glaciers. My camera is ready.

Nicolette Larson sings back-up vocals on Neil's "Four Strong Winds." I would have a hard time choosing between Nicolette and Emmylou Harris as best back-up vocalist (although I think I lean towards Emmylou); the harmony is just gorgeous. Nicolette died in 1997. Emmylou is still singing with everyone in the music world.

So our drive yesterday from Kamloops to Golden was gorgeous, especially through Revelstoke and Glacier (CA) National Parks. We arrived at the Kicking Horse Resort just in time for our 1:45 reservation for lunch on top of the mountain. A gondola ride up the mountain took us to the Eagle's Eye Restaurant where we dined while overlooking the incredible peaks of the Columbia Mountain Range. The Eagle's Eye bills itself as the highest elevation dining in Canada. Despite the 91 degree heat, mountain breezes kept us cool enough to walk around the mountaintop after our lunch.

Evening found us in a local brewpub in Golden, chatting away with a young couple from Edmondton and getting lots of advice for our visit to Banff and Lake Louise today. Excited!