A world-renowned singer has paid tribute to Canada and its sovereignty, with the help of a local viral song.
In late February, Quinte News broke word of a remake of the Gloria Gaynor song “I Will Survive.”
The late Gord Moran (Prince Edward County) wrote the song as a pushback to the international trade battles Canada is having with the Trump administration.
Here is a clip of the song Moran wrote:
Audio Player“And we spent so many nights thinking how you did us wrong, now we’ve banded all together, your tariff made us strong. And so you know , you’re not so great, there’s not a snowball’s chance in hell we’ll be your 51st state.”
The singer is Sonya Zabak (Prince Edward County) and the song was produced by Wayne McFaul (Prince Edward County).
Shortly after the song was released, it went viral, with over one million streams on YouTube in just over a week.
It went to a lot of people, including Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Rod Stewart.
Last week, Stewart performed at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage and finished his show with the song on the screen behind him.
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Just days prior to the release of the song by Rock 107, the retired school teacher came into Quinte News, CJBQ, Mix 97, and Rock 107, to discuss his new book about his time in education.
Between the original video on YouTube by Jesse McFaul (producer Wayne McFaul’s son) and the international coverage, the parody has been streamed millions of times.
Zabak tells Quinte News she had no idea the song was going to be used by Stewart.
Audio Player“I heard via a friend who was there at the concert. They messaged me to say you will have no idea what just happened at the concert and I thought that they were pranking me and then they sent me a video.”
The county resident says she only spoke with Moran over the phone, after recording it with McFaul.
Audio Player“I spoke with him after we had finished doing the recording and he had heard it. He called me just to thank me and to say how wonderful it was, it had been recorded.”
You can listen to the song and see the lyrics below:
At first, we were afraid, we were petrified
Kept thinking we could never live without you by our side
And we spent so many nights thinking how you did us wrong
Now we’ve banded all together, your tariff made us strong..
And so you know , you’re not so great
There’s not a snowball’s chance in hell we’ll be your 51st state
We should have told you this before
you don’t believe this but it is true
You really need our resources, far more than we need you
So now just go, walk out the door
We do not need you
You’re not welcome anymore
Weren’t you the one who instigated these trade fights
You’ll soon grow to regret it, when we turn out your lights
Canada, we will survive
As long as we can think and work, we know we’ll stay alive
We have all we really need; we can live without your greed
We will survive; we will survive
There’s been a change, it’s time you knew
We’re not that fledgling little country still in awe of you
We are now a nation proud, that is happy to be free
You didn’t realize you gave us, our own identity
So now just go, we will survive
As long as we can think and work, we know we’ll stay alive
We have all we really need; we can live without your greed
We will survive; we will survive
So,
Just go, go find the door
We don’t like you, we’re not friendly anymore
Weren’t you the one who tried to give us a raw deal
But you can’t live without our oil, aluminum and steel
At first, we were afraid, we were petrified
Kept thinking we could never live without you by our side
Soon you will realize, you didn’t have a clue
When we sell all our resources, to anyone but you
Just so’s you know, you’re not so great
There’s not a snowball’s chance in hell, we’ll be your 51st state
We should have closed our border tight
Should’ve sent you on your way
If we had known for just one second, that you planned to make us pay
So now just go, vacate our space
We do not like you, you’re such a big disgrace
Weren’t you the one who tried to hurt us till we cry
Did you think we would crumble, and just lay down and die
It took all the strength we had not to fall apart
Just to try to mend the pieces of our broken hearts
We spent so many nights, crying softly in our beer
Now we realize that we have nothing left to fear
You hit us hard, you knocked us down
but underestimated, the Canada you found
Now we’re f’in pissed, and united to the core
We are true Canadians, and we’ll be forever more
So just get lost, and don’t look back
We don’t need you; we are giving you the sack
Weren’t you the one who tried to hurt us, till we cry
Did you think we would crumble, and just lay down and die
When you wake up, you’ll realize
That without all our of resources, you just couldn’t survive,
Once you see your foolish trade war, would’ve done far too much harm
Then we the north will welcome you, back with open arms
‘Til that day, we lock our door
You will regret it; you can’t win this tariff war
The Canada we love so much, will never die
We are proud Canadians, we hold our heads up high
Canada, we will survive
As long as we can think and work, we know we’ll stay alive
We have all we really need; we can live without your greed
We will survive; we will survive
We will survive
We Will Survive Canada USA
Singer: Sonya Zaback
Lyrics: Gord Moran
Producer/Arranger: Wayne McFaul
Recording/Engineers: Edward Conley & Sean Bedard
