Great Big Sea UK

ALBUMS

Rankin Street

The Rankin Street tape was released, as far as I know, in 1991, before Alan joined and they became Great Big Sea. The band was made up of Sean, Darrell, Bob and Jacqui StCroix and played mostly traditional stuff. The album is no longer available ..... unless you know who to ask!



Ferryland Sealer

Oh our schooner and our sloop in Ferryland they do lie
They are already rigged to be bound for the ice
All ye lads of the southern, we will have you to beware
She is going to the ice in the spring of the year
Laddie whack fol the laddie, laddie whack fol the day

Our course be east-north-east for two days and two nights
Our captain he cried out "boys, look ahead for the ice"
He hove her around, standing in for the land
'Twas in a few more hours we were firm in the jam
Laddie whack fol the laddie, laddie whack fol the day

Our captain he cried out "come on boys, lend a hand"
Our Cookie makes the breakfast and each man takes a dram
With our bats in our hands it was earlie for to go
Every man showed his actions 'thout the missing of a blow
Laddie whack fol the laddie, laddie whack fol the day

Some were killing, some were scalping, some were hauling them on board
Some more they were firing and a-missing of their load
In the dusk of the evening, all hands in from the cold
We counted nine hundred fine scalps in the hold
Laddie whack fol the laddie, laddie whack fol the day

Well now we are loaded and our schooner she is sound
And the ice it is open and to Ferryland we're bound
We all give her a rally for to praise all our fancy
Our seals they were collected by the William and the Nancy
Laddie whack fol the laddie, laddie whack fol the day

We are now off Cape Spear and in sight of Cape Broyle
We'll dance, sing, carouse me boys in just a little while
We will soon enjoy the charms of our sweethearts and our friends
It will not be long before we're down in the bend
Laddie whack fol the laddie, laddie whack fol the day



Old Woman From Wexford

There was an old woman from Wexford and in Wexford town did dwell
She loved her old man dearly, but another man twice as well
With me right fal liddle fal lero
And me right fal tour a lee

The woman went to the doctor some medicine for to find
Saying "Doctor, give me something that will make your old man blind"
With me right fal liddle fal lero
And me right fal tour a lee

Oh feed him eggs and marrowbones and make him sup them all
It won't be very long after that he won't see you at all
With me right fal liddle fal lero
And me right fal tour a lee

She fed him eggs and marrowbones and made him sup them all
It wasn't so very long after that he couldn't see the wall
With me right fal liddle fal lero
And me right fal tour a lee

Says he "I'll go and drown meself, but that might be a sin"
Says she, "I'll go along with you and I'll help to push you in"
With me right fal liddle fal lero
And me right fal tour a lee

The woman she went back a bit to get her run and go
The old man blindly stepped aside and she went down in below
With me right fal liddle fal lero
And me right fal tour a lee

How loudly did she roar and how loudly did she howl
"Well hold yer gob old woman" says he, "I can't see you at all"
With me right fal liddle fal lero
And me right fal tour a lee

Now eggs and eggs and marrowbones will make your old man blind
But if you want to kill him you must creep up close behind
With me right fal liddle fal lero
And me right fal tour a lee

There was an old woman from Wexford and in Wexford town did dwell
She loved her old man dearly, but another man twice as well
With me right fal liddle fal lero
And me right fal tour a lee



Cod Liver Oil

I'm a young married man and I'm tired of life
Ten years I've been married to a pale sickly wife
She's nothing to do, only sit there and cry
Praying and praying to God she would die

Oh doctor, oh doctor, oh dear Doctor John
Your cod liver oil is so pure and so strong
I'm afraid of my life, I'll go down in the soil
If me wife don't stop drinking your cod liver oil

Well a friend of my own came to see me one day
And he told me my wife she was pining away
He afterwards told me that she would get strong
If I'd get a bottle from dear Doctor John

I bought her a bottle just for to try
And the way that she drank it, you'd think she might die
I bought her another, it vanished the same
And then she got cod liver oil on the brain

I bought her another, she drank it no doubt
And then she began to get terrible stout
And when she got stout, well of course she got strong
And I became jealous of dear Doctor John

Our house it resembles a great doctor's shop
It's covered in bottles from bottom to top
Well early the morning the kettle do boil
You would swear it was singing of cod liver oil



A young friend of mine insists that the chorus goes "Tell me where you store me...." It's anybody's guess, but I likes it!

General Taylor

Oh General Taylor, he gained the day
Walk him along, John carry him along
Oh General Taylor, he gained the day
Carry him to his burying ground

Tell me where you store me
Walk him along, John carry him along
Tell me where you store me
Carry him to his burying ground

Oh General Taylor, he's all the go
Walk him along, John carry him along
He's gone where the stormy winds don't blow
Carry him to his burying ground

We'll dig his grave with a silver spade
Walk him along, John carry him along
His shroud of the finest silk will be made
Carry him to his burying ground

We'll lower him down on a golden chain
Walk him along, John carry him along
On every inch we'll carve his name
Carry him to his burying ground

Well General Taylor he's dead and he's gone
Walk him along, John carry him along
Oh General Taylor he's long dead and gone
Carry him to his burying ground



Misty Moisty Morning

One misty moisty morning, when cloudy was the weather
I met with an old man, he was clothed all in leather
He was clothed all in leather with his cap beneath his chin, singing
howdedo and howdedo and howdedo again

I went a little further and there I met a maid
Well a maid a-goin' a-milking, and milkin sir she said
And I began to compliment and she began to sing, singing
howdedo and howdedo and howdedo again

This rustic was a treasure as on his way he hied
All with a little bottle fast buckled by his side
He wore no shirt upon his back but wool unto his skin, singing
howdedo and howdedo and howdedo again

This maid, her name was Dolly, clothed in a gown of grey
And feeling somewhat jolly, persuaded her to stay
And then in kind embraces I strolled her double chin, singing
howdedo and howdedo and howdedo again

I said that I would married be and she would be my bride
And lonely should not tarry and twenty things beside
I'll plough and mow and reap and sow and you will sit and spin, singing
howdedo and howdedo and howdedo again

Her parents then consented, all parties were agreed
Her portion thirty shillings, we married were with speed
And Will, the piper, he did play, while others dance and sing, singing
howdedo and howdedo and howdedo again

Now Bobby plays the mandolin for the many damsels gay
Along with Fay and Dolly to celebrate the day
And when they came together their hats they all did fling, singing
howdedo and howdedo and howdedo again
singing howdedo and howdedo and howdedo and howdedo again



I came across an obscene version of this song - click here to go to my Alternative Lyrics page!

Riley's Daughter

Giddy i ay, giddy i ay
Giddy i ay for the one-eyed Reilly
Giddy i ay, * * *
Play it on your old bass drum
Well Riley played on a big bass drum
And Riley had a mind for murder and slaughter
Riley had a big great glitterin' eye
Kept his eye on his lovely daughter

Well, her hair was black and her eyes were blue
And the colonel and the major and the captain sought her
The sergeant and the private and the drummer boy too
Never had a chance with Riley's daughter

So I got me a ring and a parcel too
And I settled me down to marriage quarters
Settled me down to a peaceful life
Happy as a king with Riley's daughter

Well suddenly a footstep on the stair
And who could it be but Riley up a-slaughter
With two pistols in his hand
Looking for the man who married his daughter

I grabbed old Riley by the hair
And I rammed his head in a pail of water
Fired his pistols in the air
Damn sight quicker than I married his daugher



I wasn't sure about some of the lyrics on this one, as Darrell's kind of drunk slurred, so I went for the version I know with a few tweaks.

Johnny McEldoo

There was Johnny McEldoo and McGhee and me
And a couple or two or three went on a spree one day
We had a drop or two, which we knew how to blew
And the beer and whiskey flew, and we all felt gay
We visited McCann's, McElman's, Humpty Dan's
We then went into Swann's our stomachs for to pack
We ordered out the feed which indeed we did need
And we finished it with speed but we still felt the lack
Johnny McEldoo turned red, white and blue
And a plate of Irish stew he soon put out of sight
He shouted out "encore" with a roar for some more
He never felt before such a keen appetite
He ordered eggs and ham, bread and jam, what a cram
But him we couldn't ram, though we tried our level best
For everything we brought, cold or hot, mattered not
It went down him like a shot but he still stood the test
He ordered tripe and lard by the yard, we got scar'd
We thought it would go hard when the waiter brought the bill
We told him to give o'er but he swore he could lower
Twice as much again and more before he had his fill
Nearly supped a trough full of broth, says McGrath
He'll devour the tablecloth if you don't hold him in
When the waiter brought the charge McEldoo felt so large
He began to scheme and barge, and his blood went a-fire
He began to curse and swear, tear his hair in despair
And to finish the affair, called the shopman a liar
The shopman he threw out McEldoo he did clout
McEldoo he kicked about like an old football
Tattered all his clothes, broke his nose, I suppose
Nearly killed him with a few blows in no time at all
McEldoo began to howl and to growl, by my soul
He threw an empty bowl at the shopkeeper's head
Struck for Mickey Finn, peeled the skin off his chin
And the ructions did begin, and we all fought and bled
The peelers did arrive, man alive, four, five
And at us they made a drive for us all to march away
We paid for all the meat that we ate, set it straight
And went home to ruminate on the spree that day



Our Station

Meet me tonight and I'll buy the first round
I know a little place that you might not have found
It looks down on the city from the underground
This is our station in the heart of town

Leave the weather at the door, leave the rush out on the street
Let down your jewels, take the weight off your tired feet
Draw up a chair, strike up a little craic
If you've had a lousy day, take the monkey off your back

Everyone's dressed for volume, everything's turned up loud
Its a designer's nightmare standing out in this crowd
With leathers mixed with tweed, pinstripe with polka dot
It makes no difference in this melting pot

Talking business in the corner, politics at the door
While the boy brings the house down with his acoustic guitar
Going crazy on the dance floor, she don't need no help
She's just getting on with being herself

Say hello, old timer, you're looking old against the new
Your sign is still glowing and the pain is showing through
You're trapped there in the corner, all alone you've watched them grow
But as long as you're still standing, I know where I can go
I can go, I can go, I can go......



A slightly different one from the version on Great Big Sea. A bit of this turns up again on Sea Of No Cares.

I'm The B'y

I'm the b'y that builds the boat
And I'm the b'y that sails her
I'm the b'y that catches the fish
And brings 'em home to Liza

Lots of fish in Bonavist' Harbour
Lots of fish right in around here
Boys and girls a-fishing together
'45 a terrible year

Catch a hold this one, catch a hold that one
Swing around this one, swing around she
Dance around this one, dance around that one
Diddle-um-dee, a diddle-um-dee

I took Liza to a dance
As fast as she could travel
And every step that she could take
Was up to her knees in gravel

I'm the b'y that builds the boat
And I'm the b'y that sails her
I'm the b'y that catches the fish
And brings 'em home to Liza

Sally goes to church every Sunday
Not for to sing and not for to hear
But to see the fella from Fotune
What came down here fishing last year

Catch a hold this one, catch a hold that one
Swing around this one, swing around she
Dance around this one, dance around that one
Diddle-um-dee, a diddle-um-dee

Sods and rinds to cover your flake
Cake and tea for supper
Codfish in the spring of the year
Fried and maggoty butter

I don't want your maggoty fish
They're no good for winter
I can buy as good as that
Way down in Bonavista

Sally's got a bouncing new baby
Father said that he doesn't care
'Cause he liked the fella from Fortune
What came down here fishing last year

Catch a hold this one, catch a hold that one
Swing around this one, swing around she
Dance around this one, dance around that one
Diddle-um-dee, a diddle-um-dee

Susan White she's out of sight
Her petticoat wants a border
Old Sam Oliver in the dark
He kissed her in the corner

I'm the b'y that builds the boat
And I'm the b'y that sails her
I'm the b'y that catches the fish
And brings 'em home to Liza

Lots of fish in Bonavist' Harbour
Lots of fish right in around here
Boys and girls a-fishing together
'45 a terrible year

Catch a hold this one, catch a hold that one
Swing around this one, swing around she
Dance around this one, dance around that one
Diddle-um-dee, a diddle-um-dee

I'm the b'y that builds the boat
And I'm the b'y that sails her
I'm the b'y that catches the fish
And brings 'em home to Liza

Lots of fish in Bonavist' Harbour
Lots of fish right in around here
Boys and girls a-fishing together
'45 a terrible year



Billy Peddle

Billy Peddle, Billy Peddle, did you see Tom White
Billy Peddle, Billy Peddle, did you see Tom White
Billy Peddle, Billy Peddle, did you see Tom White
Gone around the harbour, gonna stay all night
Gone around the harbour, gonna have a pint of beer
Gone around the harbour, got to get away from here
Gone around the harbour, gonna have a cup of tea
If you see him, Billy Peddle, tell him I wants he

repeat twice



A Hallett/McCann composition that recently turned up on the compilation album "We Will Remain - Patriotic Songs of Newfoundland", performed by Chris Andrews.

Republican Song

I was born on a St John's street where all my hopes could meet defeat
And the goals of all my friends was work in Canada
But soon there'll come a day when the young will want to stay
And learn again to rule their native land

So hear me Newfoundland, it's time to make the last demand
Gather strength against the force that will surround you
For the wolf is at your door, and you've kissed the mainland whore
The time has come at last to make a stand

We've sold our souls away and the price we've had to pay
It's not too late to change the sheets we've slept in
Though our sins have left their stain, now there's nothing left to gain
My father's pride I cannot yet betray

We've sold our souls away and the tolls are still not paid
Our children face a life of grim corruption
So hang our heads in shame, 'cause we have ourselves to blame
And hearken to this call for revolution



There are a set of totally different words to the Irish version on my Alternative Lyrics page.

As I Roved Out

Oh who are you me fair pretty maid
And who are you me darling
Oh who are you me fair pretty maid
And who are you me darling
She answered me quite modestly
"I am me mother's daughter"
With a touray ah, faddle liddle ah
Toura loura laddie oh

"Will you come to me house in the middle of the night
When the moon is shining brightly
Will you come to me house in the middle of the night
When the moon is shining brightly
And I'll open the door and I'll let you in
The devil's the one that'll hear us"
With a touray ah, faddle liddle ah
Toura loura laddie oh

She took me horse by the bridle and bit
And she led him to the stable
She took me horse by the bridle and bit
And she led him to the stable
Saying "plenty of hay for a soldier horse
To eat if he is able"
With me touray ah, faddle liddle ah
Toura loura laddie oh

She took me by her lily-white hand
And she led me to her table
She took me by her lily-white hand
And she led me to her table
Saying "plenty of rum for a soldier boy
To drink if he is able"
With me touray ah, faddle liddle ah
Toura loura laddie oh

Then I went up and I laid her down
And I laid her nice and easy
Then I went up and I laid her down
And I laid her nice and easy
Then I went up and laid her down
"Lassie, are you able?"
With me touray ah, faddle liddle ah
Toura loura laddie oh

And there we lay 'til the break of day
And the devil's the one that heard us
And there we lay 'til the break of day
And the devil's the one that heard us
Then I arose, puttin' on me clothes
"Lassie, I must leave you"
With me touray ah, faddle liddle ah
Toura loura laddie oh

"Oh, when will you return again
When will we be married?
Oh, when will you return again
And when will we be married?"
"When cockle shells make rocket shells,
It's then we will be married."
With me touray ah, faddle liddle ah Toura loura laddie oh

Oh who are you me fair pretty maid
And who are you me darling
Oh who are you me fair pretty maid
And who are you me darling
She answered me quite modestly
"I am me mother's daughter"
With a touray ah, faddle liddle ah
Toura loura laddie oh
With a touray ah, faddle liddle ah
Toura loura laddie oh



I REALLY wish I knew what Darrell sings in the fourth verse.....after hearing a few live versions, this is my best shot :o)

Excursion Around The Bay

Oh me, oh my, I heard me old wife cry
Oh me, oh my, I think I'm gonna die
Oh me, oh my, I heard me old wife say
I wish I had never taken this excursion around the bay

'Twas on one Sunday morning, and the day being calm and fine
To the Harbour Grace excursion with the boys to have a time
Then just before the sailor took the gangway from the pier
I saw some fella haul me wife aboard of the Volunteer

Well we had full three hundred souls on board, oh what a splendid sight
Massed strong and regimental to make our spirits bright
And meself being in the double, when the funny things they'd say
They'd choke themselves from laughing when they'd see us in the bay

My wife she got no better, she turned a sickly green
I fed her cakes and candy, fat pork and kerosene
Castor oil and sugar of candy, I rubbed pure oil on her face
And I said she'll be a-dandy when we reaches Harbour Grace

My wife she got no better, me wife, me darling dear
The screechers from her truly you 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

She died below the brandies as we were coming back
We buried her in the ocean, wrapped up in a 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



A beautiful traditional ballad from Jacqui StCroix.

I'm A Man You Don't Meet Every Day

Oh my name is John Steward
I'm a canny gaun more
And a roving young fellow I've been

So be easy and free
When you're drinking with me
I'm a man you don't meet every day

I have acres of land
I have men at command
I have always a shilling to spare

Well I took out my dog
And with him I did shoot
All down in the County Kildare

So come fill up your glasses
With brandy and wine
Whatever the cost, I will pay

Oh my name is John Steward
I'm a canny gaun more
And a roving young fellow I've been



Greenland Whale Fisheries

In eighteen hundred and forty six, on March the eighteenth day
We hoisted our colours to the top of the mast
And for Greenland sailed away, brave boys
And for Greenland sailed away

And when we reached that fine foreign shore, our goodly ship to moor
We wished ourselves back home again
With the girls upon the shore, brave boys
With the girls upon the shore

The lookout in the cross friel stood (?), a spy glass in his eye (in his eye)
Overhaul, overhaul, let your big boats fall
And you'll put your boats to sea, brave boys
And you'll put your boats to sea

The captain stood on the quarterdeck, the ice was in his eyes (in his eyes)
There's a whale, (there's a whale), and a whalefish he cried
And she blows at every span, brave boys
And she blows at every span

The harpoon struck and the line flayed out in a single flurry of his tail (of his tail)
He capsized our boat and we lost five men
And we did not litch that whale, brave boys
And we did not catch that whale

The losing of those five jolly men, it grieved our captain sore (he was poisoned)
But the losing of that fine sperm whale
Now it grieved him ten times more, brave boys
Now it grieved him ten times more

Oh Greenland is a barren land, a land that bears no greed
Well there's ice and there's snow, and the whale fishes blow
And an ale I've seldom seen, brave boys
And an ale I've seldom seen

In eighteen hundred and forty seven, on March the seventeenth day (Paddy's Day)
We hoisted our colours to the top of the mast
And for Greenland we set sail, brave boys
And for Greenland we set sail



Darrell's version:
Wey hey and up she rises
She's got knees of different sizes
One got a bruise and the other wins prizes
Earlie in the morning

What is this guy on?

Drunken Sailor

What do you do with the drunken sailor
What do you do with the drunken sailor
What do you do with the drunken sailor
Earlie in the morning?

Wey hey and up she rises
Wey hey and up she rises
Wey hey and up she rises
Earlie in the morning

Shave his belly with a rusty razor
Shave his belly with a rusty razor
Shave his belly with a rusty razor
Earlie in the morning

Feed him a hair of the dog that bit him
Feed him a hair of the dog that bit him
Feed him a hair of the dog that bit him
Earlie in the morning

Put him in the hold with the captain's daughter
Put him in the hold with the captain's daughter
Put him in the hold with the captain's daughter
Earlie in the morning

Put him in the back of the paddywagon
Put him in the back of the paddywagon
Put him in the back of the paddywagon
Earlie in the morning

Put him in the lock-up 'til he's sober
Put him in the lock-up 'til he's sober
Put him in the lock-up 'til he's sober
Earlie in the morning

That's what you do with the drunken sailor
That's what you do with the drunken sailor
That's what you do with the drunken sailor
Earlie in the morning



Handjive

Well I know a cat named Way-Out Willy
Got a groovy little chick named Rockin' Lily
Well, a-rockin' and a-rollin' with Suzy Q
Doing that crazy old handjive too

Mama, mama look at Uncle Joe
He be doing the handjive with sister Flo
And Grandma gave my lil' sister a dime
Just to do that handjive one more time
Handjive handjive, handjive
Do that crazy handjive

Well, a doctor and a lawyer and an Indian chief
Well they all dig that crazy beat
And Way-Out Willy gave them all a treat
When he do that handjive with his feet
Handjive handjive, handjive
Do that crazy handjive

Well, Willy and Lily got married last fall
Had little Willy Junior, but that ain't all
The kid got famous in the crib you see
When he did that handjive on MTV
Handjive handjive, handjive
Do that crazy handjive



What a way to go. Or not, as the case may be......

Finnegan's Wake

Tim Finnegan lived on Rankin Street
A gentle Irishman, by God
He had a brogue both rich and sweet
To rise in the world he carried a hod
Now Tim had a sort of a tippler's way
With a love for the liquour poor Tim was born
And to help him on his way each day
He'd a drop of the "creature" every morn.

Whack fol la dar-o dance to your partner
Round the floor your trotters shake
This 'un is the truth, I told ya
Lots of fun at Finnegan's Wake

One morning, Tim felt rather full
His head felt heavy, which made him shake
Fell from a ladder and he cracked his skull
They carried him home, his corpse to wake
Laid him out on a nice clean sheet
And laid him out all on the bed
Gallon of whiskey at his feet
And a barrel of porter at his head

His friends assembled at the wake
And Mrs Finnegan called for lunch
First she gave them tea and cake
And pipes, baccy and whisky punch
Biddy Malone began to cry
"Such a nice clean corpse did you ever see
Oh Tim malvourn' why did you die?"
"Well, hold yer gob" said Paddy McGhee

Well, Billy Malone took up the job
Says he "now Biddy, you're wrong, I'm sure"
Biddy gave him a belt in the gob
And sent him sprawling on the floor
Civil war did soon engage
'T was woman to woman and man to man
Shillelagh law was all the rage
And a row and a ruction soon began

Then Paddy Malone ducked down his head
As a bottle of whisky flew at him
It missed and landed on the bed
The whisky scattered over Tim
Now Tim revived, see how he rises
Timothy rising from the dead
He said "whirl yer whisky around like blazes,
Hollerin' Jeez, d'ya think I'm dead?"



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