Ancestors' Eyes
Written by David Leask, Mary Ellen Beatty © 1999 Jeddart Music
Not long after moving to Canada I read a book about the legend of Prince
Henry Sinclair. Prince Henry boldly led an expedition of 200 men from the
Orkney Islands in Scotland and landed in Guysborough Nova Scotia in 1398.
I was fascinated by this story perhaps because of my own journey across the
Atlantic some 600 years later and wanted to write a song about the legend.
The song was finally written with Kristi Magraw and I called it "Prince Henry".
After it had been recorded, it was circulated amongst the Sinclair Clan
and eventually made it overseas to the UK where it reached Niven Sinclair.
Niven had devoted his whole life to publicising the adventurer's
story and was so moved by the song he phoned me. After discussing the
Sinclair story he drew attention to my own surname Leask and mentioned
that there was a lot of Leask's on the Orkney Islands. He offered to search my
own ancestry through his contacts on the island. I was absolutely
flabbergasted when Niven faxed me evidence to show that a Thomas Leask
was very close to Prince Henry and in all likelihood sailed with him to the
new world. "Ancestors' Eyes" was inspired by this experience of discovering my roots.
I found a dusty photo
With a black and white expression
Staring back at me
I knew his only grandson
Since he was my father
Who was this man to me?
I took a good look at life,
Through my ancestors' eyes
Learning from the wayward and the wise
I heard of one called Thomas
Who loved the open water
And longed to be at sea
He sailed out with Prince Henry
Sought a new horizon
And found a whole new world for me
I took a good look at life,
Through my ancestors' eyes
Learning from the wayward and the wise
I took a good look at life,
Through my ancestors' eyes
Looking back to where the future lies
I left my home and family
The safety of the harbour
And faced a lonely sea
Through all the storm and struggle
I found the kind of courage
That's been handed down to me
Looking, learning, loving through their eyes
Through ancestors' eyes
I found some dusty photos
I heard forgotten stories
All, all part of me
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