The word had spread from door to door down the Barachois road to the harbor shore old Joe Labelle would steal the house from the widow Victoria. He found some deed that claimed her land and a handshake deal just wouldn’t stand in a court of law, he did demand that the house belonged to him
(Chorus) Ring the churchbells in the night we’ll gather at the first starlight. Bring your lamps, sleighs and mare to save the widow’s home Across the big field, or’e the pond we’ll move this house before the dawn. When Joe Labelle arrives he’ll find his prize already gone
It seems that some mistake was made on the day her husband made a trade and when he died he was betrayed by Joe Labelle’s black heart. He planned to force her to the cold and he’d bring the sherif and his fold so through the dead of winter’s hold we’ve come to save her home
You could see his breath freeze in the air as Pêre Felix said the lords prayer and passed the wine to all hands there and they sang a sailors song
There must have been near forty men while their wives all held their lamps for them they fashioned logs, levers, and skids while shivering to the bone. With winches, logs, and Pineau’s sleigh they slowly hauled the house away and the ice cracked like the break of day as across it she was drawn