Two Weeks

The band known as The East Pointers just released an album called What We Leave Behind. On that album is a song to which many will be able to relate. It is called “Two Weeks” and deals with the emotions of leaving home to work at a job in a far-off province for “two weeks on” and “two weeks off.”

To most of us, the idea of working for a mere two weeks and having two weeks off from work sounds appealing. But, as the song-writers say, “Nobody warned me, nobody told me I’d leave there so broken, come back so lonely.” The reality of leaving a wife and family behind to find employment in another place is a necessity for many in Canada and particularly for those who live in economically depressed areas such as Newfoundland and the Maritimes (YYG is the Charlottetown airport code). The song goes on to speak of the losses felt from being away for two weeks. Marriages and relationships with children suffer in this situation, and depression and reliance on alcohol or drugs may also contribute to the loss of money, friends, and a future. The song is one person’s haunting account of a life lived in fragments - two weeks at a time.

The East Pointers is an up-and-coming band from whom we can expect to hear a lot more. The majority of their music is East-Coast Traditional Celtic fare that appeals to those with twitchy feet, who can’t wait to get up and dance. Their ballads are filled with a sense of mournfulness that will tug at the heart-strings of all. Watch for one of their shows at a venue near you. 

Two Weeks
(Words and music by T. Chaisson, K. Chaisson, J. Charron, G. Sampson)
(From the album, What We Leave Behind, http://eastpointers.ca) 

Monday morning minus 18
Another West Jet YYG to Calgary
I always knew she’d get used to me leaving someday

A lot less words now her tears have run dry
I can tell by the way she doesn’t hold me as tight
That she’s thinking maybe she’s better off alone

Nobody warned me
Nobody told me
I’d leave there so broken and come back so lonely
I’m killing my soul for the life that I’m leaving behind
Two weeks on
Two weeks off
My blood is wearing thin and my stomach’s in knots
Too much thinking about the time you’ve lost
When it’s two weeks on and two weeks off

I punch in hide the whiskey on my breathe
By the time the night comes I take whatever I can get
Blowing black gold money I shoulda sent home

Two more days and I’m east coast bound
I’ll be praying she’s there when the wheels touch down
Maybe there’s a job home that’ll keep me this time

Nobody warned me

Nobody told me

I’d leave there so broken and come back so lonely

I’m killing my soul for the life that I’m leaving behind

Two weeks on

Two weeks off

My blood is wearing thin and my stomach’s in knots

Too much thinking about the time you’ve lost

When it’s two weeks on and two weeks off 

Nobody warned me

Nobody told me

I’d leave there so broken and come back so lonely

I’m killing my soul for the life that I’m leaving behind

Two weeks on

Two weeks off

My blood is wearing thin and my stomach’s in knots

Too much thinking about the time you’ve lost

When it’s two weeks on and two weeks off 

Monday morning minus eighteen, another West Jet YYG to Calgary

(I am sending out a special thanks to CBC Music and to my daughter, Twila, for introducing me to this amazing band.)