Come from Away

On the northeast tip of North America, on an island called Newfoundland,

there's a airport.

It used to be one of the biggest airports in the world.

And next to it is a town called Gander.

There's a two-person police department.

An elementary school.

An SPCA.

A local TV station.

And a hockey rink.

It's a small place on a giant rock in the ocean.

Everybody knows everybody else.

And everybody in this room has a story about how they started that day.

Welcome to the rock

- If you come from away - Hep!

You'll probably understand about a half of what we say

- Hep! - They say no man's an island

But an island makes a man

'Specially when one comes from one like Newfoundland

Welcome to the rock

That morning, I'm in the classroom.

It's our first day back, and the school buses are on strike,

so I'm covering for Annette, who's running late.

Sorry, Beulah. How's the kids?

Not exactly thrilled to be inside on such a gorgeous day.

So I told 'em we'd only have a half-day this morning.

They were quite pleased till I told 'em we'd have the other half in the afternoon.

Welcome to the wildest weather that you've ever heard of

Where everyone is nicer But it's never nice above

Welcome to the farthest place You'll get from Disneyland

- Fish and chips and shipwrecks - This is Newfoundland

- Welcome to the rock - I'm an islander

I am an islander

I'm an islander I am an islander

I'm an islander I am an islander

I'm an islander I am an islander

That morning, I'm in my car.

The kids cross Airport Boulevard to get to school.

And that time of day, people are in a bit of a rush to get to work and stuff,

so normally I sit there and run my radar.

And if they're speeding, I'll stop 'em and write out a warning ticket.

I'll write "STFD"... "Slow The ♫♫♫♫ Down."

Welcome to the land where the winters tried to kill us

And we said

We will not be killed

Welcome to the land where the waters tried to drown us

And we said

We will not be drowned

Welcome to the land where we lost our loved ones

And we said

We will still go on

Welcome to the land where the winds tried to blow

And we said no

That morning, I drop my kids off at school and head to the SPCA,

where I'm greeted by my other kids,

all barking and meowing for breakfast and a belly rub.

Not that I'm complaining. I loves 'em.

But by the time feeding is done, I gotta get back to pick up my human kids.

So I take just one second for myself. And I'm sitting in my car.

I'm in the staff room.

I'm in the library.

And I turn on the radio.

You are here at the start of a moment

On the edge of the world

Where the river meets the sea

Here

On the edge of the Atlantic

On an island in between

There and here

- I'm an islander, I am an islander - I'm running my radar. Bonnie comes by.

- I'm an islander, I am an islander… - She pulls up, wavin' at me like mad.

So I roll down my window, and she says…

Oz, turn on the radio.

Slow it down, Bonnie.

Jesus H., Oz, turn on your radio.

- Where our stories start - It's my first day at the station.

- Where we'll end the night - I'm getting coffee for the picket line.

- Where we know by heart - Five minutes till my smoke break.

- Every single flight - I'm off to work at the airport.

Welcome to the fog Welcome to the trees

To the ocean and the sky And whatever's in between

To the ones who've left You're never truly gone

A candle's in the window And the kettle's always on

When the sun is coming up And the world has come ashore

If you're hoping for a harbor Then you'll find an open door

In the winter, from the water through whatever's in the way