Every day I pedal to the top of the mountain

To counter the weight of being pulled down and down

And at the top Jacques Cartier left a reminder

Of the sacred place the Hochelagans needed him to see

And he planted a cross as a sign

To get it through thick settlers’ skulls like mine

CHORUS:

So every time I circle that cross

I pray to the spirit of Montreal

That it might give me the strength (maybe a plan?)

To get my baby back home again

You never know what life’s going to throw at you

It might be rose petals; sometimes just the thorns

You’ve got to be ready, hold fast to who you are

We’re all bit players; there really ain’t no stars

And I don’t believe in a god, but I do believe in sacred places

And this place, Mont-Royal, you’re my salvation

CHORUS

Buddy, you don’t know the first thing about what she’s going through

Buddy, you don’t know the half of all the pain she’s seen to