4.14 Canadian History Through Poetry and Lyrics - Part Two
| Site: | Cowichan Valley School District - Moodle |
| Course: | ELA5, CSS, Sferrazza |
| Book: | 4.14 Canadian History Through Poetry and Lyrics - Part Two |
| Printed by: | Guest user |
| Date: | Sunday, 19 May 2024, 7:05 PM |
Learning Targets
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to say YES to the following questions.
- Can I understand how exploring text helps us understand ourselves and make connections to others and to the world?
- Can I recognize the role of language in personal, social, and cultural identity?
Lyrics
Have you heard of “lyrics” before? Lyrics means “words to a song” – basically poetry put to music. In this lesson, you will explore a song that reflects Canada's history to better understand our story as a nation and the story behind a national symbol. Then, you will write a poem that reflects a piece of your own personal history.
Structure of songs
Remember, instead of stanzas, songs have verses and a chorus.
- Verse: a verse is like a poetic stanza and often even has a rhyming pattern.
- Chorus: The chorus contains the main idea, or big picture. It is repeated throughout the song.
The song (on the next page) in this lesson is called “Bluenose". As you read it, see if you can determine what the song is about.
First Read
Read the poem. Try to get the gist of the poem. Like the Canadian Railroad Trilogy, it is a narrative poem. It tells a story.
Bluenose (from the Irish Rovers album "Tall Ships and Salty Dogs", 1978)
In the town of Lunenburg down Nova Scotia way
In nineteen twenty-one on a windy day
A sailing ship was born, "Bluenose" was her name
You'll never see her kind again
{CHORUS} Bluenose, the ocean knows her name
Sailors know how proud a ship was she
Bluenose, leaning in the wind
Racing ev'ry way on the sea
Her hull was long and black, her sails were snowy white
She looked just like a young bird in flight
And from the very first, the Bluenose loved to run
She loved the smell of sea and sun
{CHORUS} Bluenose, the ocean knows her name
Sailors know how proud a ship was she
Bluenose, leaning in the wind
Racing ev'ry way on the sea
For twenty-five long years she ruled the Northern sea
Riding like a queen on the tide
In the Caribbean one dark and stormy day
She ran upon a reef and died
{CHORUS} Bluenose, the ocean knows her name
Sailors know how proud a ship was she
Bluenose, leaning in the wind
Racing ev'ry way on the sea
Now just the other day, down Nova Scotia way
In Lunenburg they christened a ship
Just like the old Bluenose, down to the very name
The Bluenose lives and sails again
{CHORUS} Bluenose, the ocean knows her name
Sailors know how proud a ship was she
Bluenose, leaning in the wind
Racing ev'ry way on the sea
Learning Guide
Go the the Learning Guide. Try summarizing the "gist" of the poem. What is the story about? How does the author feel about the Bluenose?
Then, return to this online lesson book.
A Short History Lesson
Whether you know it or not, you’ve seen the Bluenose! The Bluenose appears on the dime and many different Canadian postage stamps, but do you even know why the Bluenose is important?
The Bluenose was built in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, famous for its early days of shipbuilding and fishing. Here is a picture of the Lunenburg harbour:
Learning the Bluenose story will help you to understand the poem.
The Bluenose is a schooner that was used for one season fishing. The next year, Bluenose won the International Fisherman’s Trophy, a race held each year for the fastest fishing vessels in the world. It won the next 17 years in a row, helping to make Lunenburg's ship building industry famous!
When no longer racing, the Bluenose was used for trade. The Bluenose struck a coral reef off of Haiti on January 28, 1946, and was abandoned on the reef. Since then, a Bluneose II has been built that is modeled after the first Bluenose.
The Boat
Do you think the author described the boat well? Compare the picture of the Bluenose to this verse of the song:
Her hull was long and black, her sails were snowy white
She looked just like a young bird in flight
What literary device did the author use in the two lines above? Alliteration, metaphor, onomatopoeia, or simile?
Optional - Fun
This three minute video shows the building and launching of Bluenose II in 1963. It is amazing how many people and how much materials were used in a ship like this!
Another Read
As you read the poem one more time, try to read it with rhythm and expression. Think about how it tells the story of an important Canadian symbol and helps us to understand why the Bluenose is on stamps, the dime, and in song.
Bluenose (from the Irish Rovers album "Tall Ships and Salty Dogs", 1978)
In the town of Lunenburg down Nova Scotia way
In nineteen twenty-one on a windy day
A sailing ship was born, "Bluenose" was her name
You'll never see her kind again
{CHORUS} Bluenose, the ocean knows her name
Sailors know how proud a ship was she
Bluenose, leaning in the wind
Racing ev'ry way on the sea
Her hull was long and black, her sails were snowy white
She looked just like a young bird in flight
And from the very first, the Bluenose loved to run
She loved the smell of sea and sun
{CHORUS} Bluenose, the ocean knows her name
Sailors know how proud a ship was she
Bluenose, leaning in the wind
Racing ev'ry way on the sea
For twenty-five long years she ruled the Northern sea
Riding like a queen on the tide
In the Caribbean one dark and stormy day
She ran upon a reef and died
{CHORUS} Bluenose, the ocean knows her name
Sailors know how proud a ship was she
Bluenose, leaning in the wind
Racing ev'ry way on the sea
Now just the other day, down Nova Scotia way
In Lunenburg they christened a ship
Just like the old Bluenose, down to the very name
The Bluenose lives and sails again
{CHORUS} Bluenose, the ocean knows her name
Sailors know how proud a ship was she
Bluenose, leaning in the wind
Racing ev'ry way on the sea
Other Bluenose Songs
Here is another Bluenose songs to enjoy. Listen to how the songs tell the narrative (story) of the Bluenose. The song talks about her namesake who is there to help us to remember. That is the Bluenose II.
Poetry Writing Task
Your poetry writing task is to write the lyrics (words) for a chorus and two verses for a narrative (story telling) song.
Purpose: To write song lyrics that tell a story. (It could be to entertain, too, as many songs are meant to entertain.) Remember, this is to be a narrative - a story about something important.
Audience: Your teacher and family
Topic: Choose a symbol, and object of importance, a family story, or a special event/time in your life.
CHOOSE YOUR TOPIC, then BRAINSTORM in your Learning Guide.
Then, continue to follow the steps in your learning guide to draft, revise, edit, and evaluate your lyrics.
Reminder
Read some poems independently OR listen to your favourite song lyrics. Your home facilitator may be able to suggest a song or two that has lyrics that tell a story. Then, add to your poetry reading journal to show your independent reading reflections.
