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Secondhand Skates

from Joyful Banner Blazing by Maria Dunn

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about

Another song from the Packingtown project describing the resourcefulness and skill of children growing up in northeast Edmonton in the 1930s-50s. One of those children mentioned by our interviewees, Johnny Bucyk, went on to play for the Detroit Red Wings (1955-1956) and the Boston Bruins (1957-1978).

lyrics

6. Secondhand Skates
© Maria Dunn, 2016

Ever since I remember, I took to the ice
Skates two sizes big, I’d stumble then glide
Falling each time in a snowbank’s embrace
I picked myself up on my secondhand skates

If the rink was too busy, we’d play in the street
Frozen manure all the puck we would need
Or we’d scrimmage out back in the yard until late
The crisp echo of ice under secondhand skates

He caught my eye across the café
And we walked to the rink, feeling shy all the way
But I knew that I’d found a boy I could date
As we soared round the oval on secondhand skates

Too young to sign up and ship over to France
How lucky were we to live by chance
Where schoolyard scuffles evaporate
With a good game of hockey on secondhand skates

When our friend Johnny Bucyk he made the big league
Boy we couldn’t be prouder, we all did succeed
To imagine first class coming out of this place
And remember his grace on secondhand skates

If you turned up your nose at us, we didn’t care
In our hand-me-down coats, so neatly repaired
Knowing what comes from hard work and kind fate
Never mind that you started on secondhand skates
When I look back upon it, I’d never erase
All the friendship and joy on my secondhand skates

credits

from Joyful Banner Blazing, released January 29, 2021
© Maria Dunn, 2016
Arranged M.Dunn, S. Johnson

Maria Dunn vocal, acoustic guitar, accordion
Shannon Johnson violin
Jeremiah McDade whistle
Solon McDade upright bass

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about

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Maria Dunn Edmonton, Alberta

2022 Juno Winner for Joyful Banner Blazing! A true preserver of the spirit of folk music, 3x Juno-nominated Maria Dunn is often compared to Woody Guthrie for her keen social awareness & unvarnished melodic songs about ordinary people. On 2016 Gathering & 2021 Joyful Banner Blazing, she celebrates the love of family, community, humanity that fires our actions to make the world a better place. ... more

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