Excursion Around The Bay

Well it was on this Monday morning and the day been calm and fine to the Harbour Grace excursion with the boys to have a time and just before the sailor pulled the gangway from the pier I saw some fella haul me wife aboard as a volunteer
Chorus: O me o my I heard me old wife cry o me o my I think I'm going to die O me o my I heard me old wife say: I wish I'd never taken this excursion around the bay.
We had full 300 souls aboard oh what a-splendid sight Both strong and regimental to make our spirits bright and meself being in the double when a funny thing they'd say they'd choke themselves from laughing when they'd see us in the bay.
Chorus
My wife she got no better, She turned a sickly green I fed her soap and candy, fat pork and gasoline, caster-oil and sugar of candy rubbed hair oil on her face and I said you'll be a dandy when you reaches Harbour Grace.
Chorus
My wife she got no better, my wife me darling dear The screeches from the trollie I could hear in Carbonear I tried every place in Harbour Grace tried every store and shop to get her something for a cure or take her to the Hop.
Chorus
she died below the Brandy's as we were coming back we buried her in the ocean wrapped up in the Union Jack so now I am a single man in search of a pretty face and the woman that says she'll have me I'm off for Harbour Grace
Chorus

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Feller From Fortune

Oh, there's lots of fish in Bonavist' Harbour Lots of fish right in around here; Boys and girls are fishing together, Forty-five from Carbonear.
Chorus: Oh, Catch a-hold this one, catch a-hold that one, Swing around this one, swing around that she, Dance around this one, dance around that one, Diddle dum this one, diddle dum-dee.
Oh, Sally goes to church ev'ry Sunday, Not for to sing, nor for to hear; But to see the feller from Fortune That was down here fishing the year.
Chorus
Oh, Sally got a bouncin' new baby, Fodder says that he didn't care; Ah, he liked the feller from Fortune, That was down here fishing last year.
Chorus
Oh, Uncle George got up in the mornin', He got up in an 'ell of a tear, Ripped the seat right out of his trouser, Now he's got no pair to wear.
Chorus
Oh, there's lots of fish in Bonavist' Harbour, Lots of fish right in around here; Swing your partner Jimmy Joe Jacobs, I'll be home in the spring of the year.

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Great Big Sea Hove In Long Beach

Great big sea hove in Long Beach, Right fol-lor a-tiddle-iddle I doh. Great big sea hove in Long Beach, Granny Snooks she lost her speech, To me right fol diddle I dee,
Great big sea hove in the Harbour, Right fol-lor a-tiddle-iddle I doh. Great big sea hove in the Harbour, And hove right up in Keough's parlour, To me right fol diddle I dee,
Oh, mother dear, I wants a sack, Right fol-lor a-tiddle-iddle I doh. Oh, mother dear, I wants a sack, With beads and buttons all down the back, To me right fol diddle I dee,
Me boot is broke, me frock is tore, Right fol-lor a-tiddle-iddle I doh. Me boot is broke, me frock is tore, But Georgie Snooks I do adore, To me right fol diddle I dee.
Oh, fish is low and flour is high, Right fol-lor a-tiddle-iddle I doh. Oh, fish is low and flour is high, Georgie Snooks he can't have me, To me right fol diddle I dee.
He will have me in the Fall, Right fol-lor a-tiddle-iddle I doh. If he don't I'll hoist me sail, And say good-bye to old Cannaille, To me right fol diddle I dee.

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I'se The B'ye

I'se the b'y that builds the boat, And I'se the b'y that sails her. I'se the b'y that catches the fish And takes 'em home to Lizer.
Chorus: Hip yer partner, Sally Tibbo. Hip yer partner, Sally Brown Fogo, Twillingate, Morton's Harbour, All around the circle.
Sods and rinds to cover yer flake, Cake and tea for supper, Codfish in the spring o' the year Fried in maggoty butter.
Chorus
I don't want your maggoty fish, That's no good for winter; I could buy as good as that, Down in Bonavista.
Chorus
I took Lizer to a dance, And faith, but she could travel, And every step that she took Was up to her knees in gravel.
Chorus
Susan White she's out o' sight: Her petticoat wants a border. Old Sam Oliver in the dark, He kissed her in the corner.
Chorus
I'se the b'y that builds the boat, and I'se the b'y that catches the fish and takes 'em home to Lizer.
Chorus

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Let Me Fish Off Cape St. Mary's

Take me back to my Western boat, Let me fish off Cape St. Mary's Where the hagdowns sail and the fog-horns wail, With my friends the Browns and the Clearys. Let me fish off Cape St. Mary's.
Let me feel my dory lift to the board Atlantic combers, where the tide rips swirl and the wild ducks whirl, where Old Neptune calls the numbers, 'neath the broad Atlantic combers.
Let me sail up Golden Bay, with my oilskins all a-streamin' from the thunder squall, when I hauled me trawl and my old Cape Ann a-gleamin', with my oilskins all a-streamin'.
Let me view that rugged shore, where the beach is all a-glisten, with the caplin spawn where from dusk to dawn, you bait your trawl and listen to the undertow a-hissin'.
When I reach that last big shoal where tge ground swells break asunder, where the wild sands roll to the sturges toll, let me be a man and take it when my dory fails to make it.
Take me back to that snug green cove where the seas roll up their thunder, there let me rest in the earth's cool breast, where the stars shine out their wonder, and the seas roll up their thunder.

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Meraheen Farewell

Attention all good friends of mine, come listen to my sad tale, concerning of an island down in Placentia Bay. It was the home of childhood times, my memories still do stray to that little isle of Merasheen down in Placentia Bay.
The people made their living on the land and on the sea -- they all helped one another, it was their policy: with their little gardens by the house, and the boats moored to the pier, with a sing-song in the evening, around a keg of beer.
Some time in December they turned out all the lights and closed the doors of their happy homes they worked for all their lives. 'twould break your heart to see them walk to the boat to go away, so we bid farewell to Merasheen down in Placentia Bay.
No more we'll watch the caplin as they wash upon the sand, the little fish they used for bait, to fertilise their land; no more they'll watch their gardens grow or their meadows full of hay, or walk the roads in their working-clothes in the good old fashioned way.
The houses now are all closed up, their windows no more will rise; their doors will never open again to welcome you inside; nor will you here the sound of laughter, or the songs we used to sing -- those days are gone forever now and so is Merasheen.
I hope you're settled down by now in you homes across the waves-- although we're seperated we'll meet again some day; and from all of us who live far away and from our children, we thank you for the happy homes we had in Merasheen.

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Ode To Newfoundland

When sunrays crown thy pine-clad hills, and Summer spreads her hand, when silvern voices tune thy rills, We love thee, smiling land, We love thee, we love thee, We love thee, smiling land,
When blinding storm gusts fret thy shore and wild waves lash thy strand, through spindrift swirl and tempest roar, We love thee, wind-swept land, We love thee, we love thee, We love thee, wind-swept land.
When spreads thy cloak of shimm'ring white, at winter's stern command, through shortened day and starlit night, We love thee, frozen land, We love thee, we love thee, We love thee, frozen land,
As loved our father, so we love, where once they stood we stand, their prayer we raise to heav'n above, God guard thee, Newfoundland God guard thee, God guard thee, God guard thee, Newfoundland.

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Ryans And The Pittmans(Rant And Roar)

My name it is Robert, they call me Bob Pittman; I sail in the Ino with skipper Tom Brown. I'm bound to have Dolly or Biddy or Molly As soon as I'm able to plank the cash down.
Chorus: We’ll rant and we’ll roar like true Newfoundlanders. We’ll rant and we’ll roar on deck and below. Until we see bottom inside of two sunkers. Then straight through the channel to Toslow we’ll go.
I’m the son of a seacook and a cook in a trader, I can dance, I can sing, I can reef the main boom. I can handle a jigger and I cuts a fine figure, Whenever I gets in a boat’s standing room.
If the voyage is good then this fall I will do it. I want two pound ten for a ring and a priest. A couple of dollars for clean shirts and collars, And a handful of coppers to make up a feast.
I went to a dance one night in Fox Harbour. There were plenty of girls as nice as you’d wish. There was one pretty maiden a-chawing on frankgum, Just like a young kitten a-knawing fresh fish.
There’s plump little Polly, her name is Goldsworthy. There’s John Coady’s Kitty and Mary Tibbo. There’s Clara from Brule and young Martha Foley, But the nicest of all is my girl from Toslow.
Farewell and adieu to ye fair ones of Valen, Farewell and adieu to ye ones in the cove; Now let ye be jolly, don't be melancholy; For I can’t marry all or in the chokey I’d be.
Farewell and adieu to you girls of Fox Harbour, Oderin and Presque, Crabbes Hole and Brule. I’m bound to the westward to the wall with the hole in, For I can’t marry all or in the chokey I’d be.
Farewell and adieu to ye girls of St. Kyran's. Of Paradise and Presque, big and little Bona; I'm bound unto Toslow to marry sweet Biddy, And if I don't do so, I'm afraid of her da.
I've bought me a house from Katherine Davis, A twenty-pound bed from Jimmy McGraw; I'll get me a settle, a pot and a kettle; And then I'll be ready for Biddy - hurrah!

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Squid-Jigging Ground

Oh, this is the place where the fishermen gather, In oilskins and boots and Cape Anns battened down. All sizes of figures with squid lines and jiggers, They congregate here on the squid jiggin' ground.
Some are working their jiggers while others are yarning. There's some standing up and there's more lying down. While all kinds of fun, jokes and tricks are begun, As they wait for the squid on the squid jiggin' ground.
There's men of all ages and boys in the bargain, There's old Billy Cave and there's young Raymond Brown. There's a red ranting Tory out here in a dory, A-running down Squires on the squid jiggin' ground.
There's men from the Harbour, there's men from the Tickle, In all kinds of motorboats, green, grey and brown. Right yonder there's Bobby and with him is Noddy, He's chawing hard tack on the squid jiggin' ground.
Oh, God bless my sou'wester, there's Skipper John Chaffey. He's the best hand at squid jigging here, I'll be bound. Hello, what's the row? Why he's jigging one now. It's the very first squid on the squid jiggin' ground.
Now, the man with the whiskers is old Jacob Steele. He's getting well up but he's still pretty sound. While Uncle Bob Hawkins wears six pairs of stockings, Whenever he's out on the squid jiggin' ground.
Holy smoke! What a scuffle, all hands are excited. 'Tis a wonder to me that there's nobody drowned. There's confusion, a bustle, a wonderful hustle. They're all jigging squids on the squid jiggin' ground.
Says Bobby, "The squids are on top of the water. I just got my jiggers 'bout one fathom down". But a squid in the boat squirted right down his throat, And he's swearing like mad on the squid jjiggin' ground.
There's poor Uncle Billy, his whiskers are spattered, With spots of the squid juice that's flying around. One poor little boy got it right in the eye, But they don't give a darn on the squid jiggin' ground.
Now if ever you feel so inclined to go squidding, Leave your white shirts and collars behind in the town, And if you get cranky without your silk hanky, You'd better steer clear of the squid jiggin' ground.

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Wave over Wave

Me name's Able Rogers, a shareman am I On a three-masted schooner from Twillingate Isle I've been the world over, north, south, east, and west But the middle of nowhere's where I like it best
Chorus: Where it's wave over wave, sea over bow I'm as happy a man as the sea will allow There's no other life for a sailor like me But to sail the salt sea, boys, sail the sea There's no other life but to sail the salt sea
The work it is hard and the hours are long My spirit is willing, my back it is strong And when our work's over then whiskey we'll pour We'll dance with the girls upon some foreign shore
Chorus:
I'd leave my wife lonely ten months of the year She made me a home and raised my children dear But she'd never come out to bid farewell to me Or ken why a sailor must sail the salt sea
Chorus:
I've sailed the wide oceans four decades or more And ofttimes I've wondered what I do it for I don't know the answer, it's pleasure and pain With life to live over, I'd do it again
Chorus:

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Donkey Riding

Chorus: Way hey and a way we go Donkey Riding, Donkey Riding Way hey and a way we go Riding on a donkey.
Was you ever in Quebec launching timber on the deck where you break your bleeding neck riding on a donkey
Chorus
Was you ever round Cape Horn where the weather's never warm wish to God you'd never been born riding on a donkey
Chorus
Was you ever in Miramichi where you tie up to a tree and the girls sit on your knee riding on a donkey
Chorus
Was you ever in Fortune Bay See the girls all shout Horray here comes Dad with ten weeks pay riding on a donkey
Chorus
Was you ever in London Town see the King he does come down SEE THE KING IN HIS GOLDEN CROWN riding on a donkey
Chorus 2x

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Recruiting Sargent

Two recruiting sergeants came to the CLB, for the sons of the merchants, to join the Blue Puttees So all the hands enlisted, five hundred young men... Enlist you Newfoundlanders and come follow me
They crossed the broad Atlantic in the brave Florizel, And on the sands of Suvla, they entered into hell And on those bloody beaches, the first of them fell... Enlist you Newfoundlanders and come follow me
Chorus: So it's over the mountains, and over the sea Come brave Newfoundlanders and join the Blue Puttees You'll fight in Flanders, and at Galipoli Enlist you Newfoundlanders and come follow me
Then the call came from London, for the last July drive To the trenches with the regiment, prepare yourselves to die The roll call next morning, just a handful survived. Enlist you Newfoundlanders and come follow me
Chorus
The stone men on Water Street still cry for the day When the pride of the city went marching away A thousand men slaughtered, to hear the King say Enlist you Newfoundlanders and come follow me
Chorus 3x

Newfunese(6mgs)

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Goofie Newfie

Now I know that we don't talk like you mainlanders And I know that we're the victims of your jokes And I know that you all think we're goofie Newfies And that we all belong in fishing boats
Why you even make fun of Joey Smallwood And you call him Newfies funny little man But he sure shakes up your politicians When he stands up and fights for Newfoundland
Chorus So go ahead and call us goofie Newfies Laugh aloud when you hear us speak We'll just sit back and enjoy living And chug-a-lug that good old Newfie screech
I know that we don't have your super highways And buildings that are forty stories high Now we don't have your fancy cars and money We don't need them and I'll tell you why
Why if we had them,we'd be just like you are And proving it by telling stupid jokes So I'm proud to say that I come from Newfie And I was raised up in fishing boats
Repeat Chorus

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Hold Your Head Up Newfoundlander

Chorus Hold your head up Newfoundlander, you're a part of this great land And I know that you're Canadian and a fellow countryman I'm just as proud to walk beside you, proud to call you friend I'm a better man for knowing you, be proud of Newfoundland
There's people walking' round today That can't get there feet off the ground There the ones that you see laughing out While they're puttin' someone down You'd think the walk on water, a way up in the sky But the only man that ever walked on water, wasn't that kind of guy
Repeat Chorus
Next time you see one ask him, what he's trying to do Look him in the eye and tell him, he don't speak for me and you Then you offer him some good advice, go and see first hand How wrong he's been and he'll come back a wise and better man
Repeat Chorus

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