Columbus sailed the ocean blue
Back in 1492.
He sailed across and spotted land,
A beach, and people on the sand.
He called them Indians because
He had no idea where he was,
India was a wild guess.
When in doubt, declare success.
And so we have Columbus Day
All across the U.S.A.
Which is not about crossing the ocean
But about self-promotion.
Everybody knows the one
Who crossed first was Leif Ericsson
Who sailed over in the 10th Century
Without bringing disease or causing injury
And explored Newfoundland
With his sturdy Viking band
And sailed back to Oslo
And saw a friend and told him, "Ja so
I just got back from way out west."
And the friend said, "Oh I sorta guessed
You were gone. Where'd you go?"
"Oh, off to the New World, don't you know."
He could've proclaimed the whole of
America belonged to King Olaf,
But instead he shrugged and said," Hey
No need to name a holiday
For me or raise a statue."
He was a Viking. He knew that you
Don't want to hog the glory.
Just try to tell the story.
And those people he found by the ocean
Weren't Indian. They were Nova Scotian.