– English Lyrics

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

Join us for a guided hike to the Burgess Shale in Yoho national Park

and spend a day with a Parks Canada interpreter.

So one of the things that we'll see when we get up to the quarry

is we'll see a real amazing diversity of body plans.

So we see creatures that were predators, creatures that would have been scavengers,

creatures that were at the very bottom of the food chain,

and animals with all kinds of defensive techniques.

A visit to the Burgess Shale is very special because you really get to be hands on with the rock,

to step into a little bit of history and see some spectacular fossils

and do it in a fantastic surrounding.

I mean, one of the most beautiful spots on the planet.

So the mountains are young but falling apart.

But the Burgess Shale fossils are ancient.

Half a billion years old and still perfectly preserved waiting for us to come and see.

This is more than what I expected.

I didn't really expect that much other than a long hike, but it has it's benefits

and it's definitely been nice to stop and enjoy the scenery

and especially to get up here and kind of look around for fossils and stuff like that.

You really feel like you're doing something and you're not just behind a velvet rope,

you're really touching and feeling it - it's really fun.

I'm very surprised that there are so much and that they are so old and that you can see them everywhere.

You just sit here and pick up a rock and there's a fossil.

You just look here and there and, um, it's beyond what I thought it would be.

It's amazing. It's almost humbling that this is almost half a billion years old

and it's still here and we can see it and experience it.

And this is the start of life that's you and me today.

You expect to see maybe half a dozen, and there are just everywhere, all the fossils.

For more information, visit our website at pc.gc.ca/burgessshale

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
guided /ˈɡaɪdɪd/ B1	adjective - accompanied and directed by a guide
hike /haɪk/ A2	verb - to walk a long distance, especially for pleasure or exercise noun - a long walk in the countryside
diversity /daɪˈvɜːrsəti/ B2	noun - the state of being diverse; variety
predators /ˈpredətərz/ B2	noun - an animal that naturally preys on others
scavengers /ˈskævɪndʒərz/ B2	noun - an animal that feeds on carrion or refuse
techniques /tekˈniːks/ B1	noun - a way of carrying out a particular task
special /ˈspeʃəl/ A2	adjective - better, greater, or different from what is usual
fossils /ˈfɒsɪlz/ B1	noun - the remains or impression of a prehistoric organism preserved in rock
fantastic /fænˈtæstɪk/ B1	adjective - extraordinarily good or attractive
ancient /ˈeɪnʃənt/ B1	adjective - belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence
preserved /prɪˈzɜːvd/ B2	verb - maintain (something) in its original or existing state
benefits /ˈbenɪfɪts/ B1	noun - an advantage or profit gained from something
scenery /ˈsiːnəri/ A2	noun - the natural features of a landscape
velvet /ˈvelvɪt/ B1	noun - a fabric with a short, dense pile
humbling /ˈhʌmblɪŋ/ B2	adjective - causing someone to feel less important or proud
experience /ɪkˈspɪəriəns/ B1	verb - encounter or undergo (something) noun - an event or occurrence which leaves an impression on someone

Key Grammar Structures

• So one of the things that we'll see when we get up to the quarry is we'll see a real amazing diversity of body plans.

  ➔ Relative clauses ('that we'll see'), cleft sentences ('one of the things...is'), future with 'will'

  ➔ The sentence uses a complex structure with a relative clause modifying 'things' and a cleft sentence to emphasize 'diversity'. The use of 'we'll' is a contraction of 'we will', indicating a future action.

• A visit to the Burgess Shale is very special because you really get to be hands on with the rock, to step into a little bit of history and see some spectacular fossils.

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose ('to step', 'to see'), adverbs of degree ('really', 'little bit'), gerund as a subject complement ('visiting')

  ➔ The sentence explains *why* the visit is special. The infinitives 'to step' and 'to see' show the purpose of the visit. 'Really' and 'a little bit' modify adjectives and add nuance.

• You just sit here and pick up a rock and there's a fossil.

  ➔ Imperative mood ('sit', 'pick up'), present simple for habitual actions/general truths, existential 'there is/are'

  ➔ This sentence uses direct commands ('sit', 'pick up') to create a sense of immediacy. The 'there is' construction indicates the existence of a fossil. The present simple suggests this is a common occurrence.