Lyr Add: Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walters)

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BIRD ROCKS (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From: Art Thieme
Date: 12 Apr 99 - 07:01 PM

THE BIRD ROCKS
from Mrs. Annie Walters--Rocky Harbor, Newfoundland--1929

The winter down the icy gulf--the gulf St. Lawrence wide,
There stood a lighthouse on a rock--the sailor's friend and pride,
The keeper and his wife and son and a helper too had he,
The four alone lived on the rock surrounded by the sea.

One day these 3 brave men went out as they were want to to,
On rugged sheets of frozen ice to capture seals a few,
But as they lingered on the ice at length they failed to see,
The wind, it veered from from south to east and drove the ice to sea.

The sheets of ice on which they stood were drifted all unseen,
Now they couldn't gain the rock for water flowed between,
Alone within the lighthouse tower the keeper's wife did see,
Her loved ones carried to their doom toward the open sea.

They waved their hands in wild despair and did for rescue pray,
But not a soul was there to help that frozen winters day,
Five months she lived on that lone rock, grief stricken yet so brave,
For nightly beamed her beacon light across the gloomy waves.

At length the welcome Spring appeared and the steamship came around,
And when the skipper climbed the rock but one brave soul he found,
She told her tale in measured tones, the skipper's eyes grew dim,
He turned his eyes toward the sea and his heart was touched within.

"What did you do," at lat he said, "when all was snatched from you?"
"I kept my light still burning bright--'twas all that I could do."
And may we like this gentle soul in sorrows darkest night,
Still do our duty for our God and show the world our light.

Subject: Tune Add: THE BIRD ROCKS (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From: Bruce O.
Date: 12 Apr 99 - 08:40 PM

'Twas winter down the icy gulf

X:1
T:The Bird Rocks, (Mrs. Annie Walters)
S:Greenleaf and Mansfield, 'Ballads and Sea Songs of Newfoundland
Q:120
L:1/8
M:6/8
K:D
A|F2Ad2d|(cB) AG2F|E2EF2G|A3z2D|\
F2F (EF) G|A2A (FE) F|D2DE2E|(D3D2)|]

Subject: RE: Lyric add: 'THE BIRD ROCKS' (from Art)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Apr 99 - 01:58 PM

Hey, this is a great song, Art. C'mon, you MUST have a story to go along with it, don't you? (or is it one you mentioned in another thread)
Anybody know of any recordings?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyric add: 'THE BIRD ROCKS' (from Art)
From: Bruce O.
Date: 13 Apr 99 - 04:42 PM

There's not a single word of 'notes' in Greenleaf and Mansfield's book. [Thanks for fixing my error]
After the title is: "Sung by Mrs. Annie Walters, Rocky Harbour, 1629". Above tune on left is: "In moderate time", and to right, "Recorded by E. B. G[reenleaf]. That's all except for tune and song.

Subject: RE: Lyric add: 'THE BIRD ROCKS' (from Art)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Apr 99 - 04:52 PM

Bruce, it that 1629 or 1929? Could you be upside-down-dyslexic?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyric add: 'THE BIRD ROCKS' (from Art)
From: Art Thieme
Date: 13 Apr 99 - 08:57 PM

Joe,

I never had a tune for it. Just have kept it in one of my notebooks for many years. I always did want to put it to a tune of some sort---maybe a trad one that fit the meter. Seems I tried to do that once since I've got chords notated above the lyric. But I've no idea what tunethose chords went with...

Upside-down dyslexic must be why Elizabeth cotten and Bill Staines play upside-down (without reversing their strings). Elizabeth had a hell of a time keeping her skirt down!

Art

Subject: RE: Lyric add: 'THE BIRD ROCKS' (from Art)
From: Bruce O.
Date: 13 Apr 99 - 09:12 PM

1929, of course, sorry.

Subject: RE: Lyric add: 'THE BIRD ROCKS' (from Art)
From: karen k
Date: 17 Apr 99 - 09:41 PM

There's one more half verse at the end in the Greenleaf book:

Then let us keep our lights aglow, till all life's storm is o'er;
Then we'll shine as God's fair jewels on Eden's peaceful shore.

It's not a great verse and could be left out, but it is in the version in the Greenleaf book and deserves to be shared.

I have only heard Margaret MacArthur sing this song and it was probably back in the 70's or early 80's.

karen k

Subject: RE: Lyric add: 'THE BIRD ROCKS' (from Art)
From:
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 08:43 PM

Dear readers,
I have just come on line and have been looking for anything on my grandmother Annie Walters, was amazed at the info on her, my mother was Ivy and she was born in the Lobster Cove Lighthouse in March of 1920, we spent every summer there as kids and many times I heard my grandmother sing, in fact in 1975 my husband and son along with his sister, husband and son went to Rocky Harbour for a vacation, the guys took their guitars and a cheap tape recorder and we spent a evening with Nan, and Arthur Nicole who accompained Nan to Newport Rhode Island Folk festival and we have her singing the Bird Rocks, we still have the tape along with many other songs including Bar the door O. Would love to share her songs and tunes with you

                                     Janet Howard
                                        Brougham , Ontario
                                           Canada

Subject: RE: Lyric add: 'THE BIRD ROCKS' (from Art)
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 30 Dec 05 - 12:34 AM

What a wonderful addition to this long dormant thread. It is grand to hear from you Ms Howard!!! I am at [e-mail] I do hope that your tape and recollections and texts of your grandmother's songs have been archived someplace where her musical gems will be appreciated.

All the best,

Art Thieme
Peru, Illinois

Subject: RE: Lyric add: 'THE BIRD ROCKS' (from Art)
From:
Date: 30 Dec 05 - 07:57 PM

Dear Art,

I,m sending back this way as my "server "doesn't seem to know what I want to do ( just a week into this), was so pleased to see a reply as the last msg was a long time ago. How did you know of my grandmother?, she was an incredible lady' have you been to Rocky Harbour? I only have the tape and the Newport Rhode Island festival program book from 1965 where she sang on the same night as Bob Dylan.
My Mom passed away this summer and we made copies of the tape for the other sisters, I have extras and if you would like one for your personal use or use among friends (non profit, appearently you have to say this on Internet)I would love to send you one, there is background noise, the kids, cheap tape recorder, but Nan singing is very clear and her talking is great.

If you want to pass along your address this way or call me it's 905 683 6091

                                       Janet

Subject: RE: Lyric add: 'THE BIRD ROCKS' (from Art)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Dec 05 - 10:16 PM

Nice to get such a nibble on such an old thread.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyric add: 'THE BIRD ROCKS' (from Art)
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 31 Dec 05 - 01:05 AM

Dear Janet,

I only heard of your grandmother in the Greenleaf book which I took out of the library a l-o-n-g time ago. I took down the words because I loved the story/tale told in it. I will call you at a more normal hour than right now and, yes, I'd love to hear it sung by the source! That'd be wonderful. On the phone I'll tell you which recording of mine I will be sending you to say thanks!!. When you receive it from me, you will know it is actually me you will be sending it to--and not some internet opportunist. Then, you can send it to me. --------------------------------Since you are new to the Internet, I've just gotta tell ya that not everyone up here is a nice person... Thank you in advance!

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jan 06 - 06:26 PM

Hi Art,
Happy 2006! will wait to hear from you

Janet

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BIRD ROCKS (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From: GEST
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 06:41 PM

The Bird Rocks

'Twas winter down the icy Gulf,
The Gulf St. Lawrence wide,
Where stands a light-house on a rock,
The sailor's friend and guide.

The keeper and his wife and son,
A helper too had he,
These four alone lived on that rock,
Surrounded by the sea.

One day these three brave men went out,
As they were wont to do,
On rugged sheets of frozen ice
To capture seals a few.

But as they lingered o'er the seals,
At length they failed to see
The wind had veered from south to east
And drove the ice to sea.

The sheets of ice on which they stood
Were drifted all unseen,
And now they could not gain that rock
For water flowed between.

They wove their hands in wild despair
And did for rescue pray,
But not a soul was near to help
That freezing winter's day.

Alone within the light-house tower,
The keeper's wife did see
Her loved ones carried to their doom
Toward the open sea.

Four months she lived on that lone rock,
Grief-stricken yet so brave,
For nightly gleamed her beacon light
Across the gloomy wave.

At length the welcome spring appeared,
A steamship came around,
And when the skipper climbed the rock
But one brave soul he found.

She told her tale in plaintive tones,
The skipper's eyes grew dim,
He turned his eyes toward the sea,
His heart was touched within.

"What did you do," at last he said,
"When all was snatched from you?"
"I kept my light still burning, sir,
'Twas all that I could do."

Oh may we, like this faithful soul
In sorrow's darkest night,
Still do our duty for our God,
And show the world our light!

Then let us keep our lights aglow
Till all life's storm is o'er,
And then we'll shine as God's fair jewels
On Eden's peaceful shore.

####.... Native Newfoundland song ....####

Collected in 1958 from Mrs. Thomas Walters of Rocky Harbour, NL, by Ken Peacock and published in Songs Of The Newfoundland Outports, Volume 3, pp.903-904, by the National Museum of Canada (1965) Crown Copyrights Reserved.

Kenneth Peacock noted that Mrs. Walters said the Bird Rocks are in the Gulf of St. Lawrence near the Magdalen Islands. She sang this song nearly thirty years earlier for Elisabeth Greenleaf, who included it in her Ballads And Sea Songs Of Newfoundland by Elisabeth Bristol Greenleaf and Grace Yarrow Mansfield (Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 1933; Folklore Associates, Hatboro, PA, 1968). Since Mrs. Walters and her mother before her semed to be the only sources for this ballad, Peacock claimed it until further notice as a native Newfoundland song.

Archived at GEST Songs Of Newfoundland And Labrador

---

Click to play

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From: mg
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 02:33 AM

Where is Rocky Harbor? I used to live in Newfoundland...a most wonderful place...everyone please go there this summer..you will love it..so much music..beautiful scenery..nature..charming kids...

There is a Newfoundland Jig radio show on internet radio live365.com. it is quite good. maybe you could make the tape into CDs and they might play songs now and then ifyuou gave it to them. mg

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From: GEST
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 07:31 AM

Rocky Harbour is located on Beautiful Bonne Bay on the west coast of Newfoundland along the road through Gros Morne National Park. It is also the home of the locally popular band Anchors Aweigh.

Here's a brief article about the town and its history: http://www.explorenewfoundlandandlabrador.com/ communities/rocky-harbour.htm

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From:
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 10:35 PM

Hello,

It's so great to see so much interest and that anyone had even heard of her, the Bird Rocks is a heartbreaking song if you could have heard her sing it! I have been searching for any recordings that were made of her evening at Newport Rhode Island Folk Festival in 1965, I do have the program but it doesn't say what songs she did. I'll look for the radio station and see about changing to CD, thank you for the tip.

Have a great evening all
   Janet

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 02:09 AM

Janet,

A package went out to you today!

Art

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From:
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 09:41 PM

Hello,
Thank you,

We're looking forward to hearing your tape, my husband plays and recently picked up the harmonica, not as painful as the bango but he is getting good at it, he's very partial to John Prine and Dylan so not so bad to listen to.


Have a good evening
j

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 06 Jan 06 - 08:52 PM

I think I put 3 CDs in the package. I hope you can play those. If you need me to dub them onto cassettes and re-send 'em, I will!? There is a photo I took of John (Prine) in Chicago with his brother, Davey, at the web site with all my folk scene photos---forty tears worth of 'em.

Art

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From:
Date: 06 Jan 06 - 09:41 PM

Hi,
That's great, can't wait to get it. Is the web site you speak of something I can view

J

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From:
Date: 07 Jan 06 - 01:55 PM

I'd love to hear that song. You have my real interest.
Drop into www.thesharecroppers.net for our Trio's style of Nfld folk music.
I even trade folk cds every now and then...like we did out in Bristol England. I live just down the road from Rocky Hr....about an hour away. I live in pasadena,Nfld.
Cheers! (Hello GEST!!)
All the best...Mike Madigan 709-686-5427

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 07 Jan 06 - 02:11 PM

To see those photos, go to
http://rudegnu.com/art_thieme.html

When asked by the site, put in the lower case word 'mudcat' as both the "user name" and the "password"! That'll get you in.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From:
Date: 08 Jan 06 - 08:33 PM

Hello,
Loved the pictures, you've had quite the life, Paul(the husband) thought the guitar in the picture for your new cd was great, looked like a Martin he said, one of his If I win the lottery dreams, I can remember seeing Sonny Terry and Brownie in the 70's or early 80's at the El Macombo or maybe Ontario Place, long time ago!! Paul's 5 years older then me so he remembers many from the "Village" in downtown Toronto cica 1965-70's.

Hvae a good evening
j

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From:
Date: 14 Jan 06 - 08:14 PM

Dear Art,

Received your cd's yesterday' they were great' Paul loved the guitar work,I even enjoyed the banjo and after hearing Paul learning(trying) I swore I'd never listen to anything with a banjo in it again! he spent the entire morning listening to all 3 tapes and he wished he had heard of you long before this.
Our Post ofices are closed for the weekend so will be sending out Nan's tape on Monday, this will be the unfixed as it will take a few weeks to have it cleaned up if they can do it
Janet

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 15 Jan 06 - 06:03 PM

Janet,

It was great getting a call from Paul today. And I am glad you both are enjoying the CDs. Thanks so much!!

Art

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walte
From: Anglogeezer
Date: 19 Jan 06 - 05:53 PM

Interesting thread. Lovely song.

This link will take you "Bird Rocks Lighthouse" at the Lighthouse Depot, a site for people that love light houses!!
There is a list of the lighthouse keepers, though there is no clue as to which of them the song is about.

www.lhdigest.com/database/uniquelighthouse.cfm?value=1953

Jake

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From:
Date: 31 Jan 06 - 09:36 PM

Dear Art,
Finally got the tape out to you,mailed today, my van was stolen last Sat morn and it's been a week from "Heck", we live 20km from anywhere and I won't be without 2 so it's find another etc etc.. only good thing was the kids drove south of us where there is a Police station, and as I had heard them pull out of the driveway and called it in, they were caught within 20 minutes! one for the boys in blue!! Paul did a little clean up of the tape so hope you enjoy.
I enclosed a picture of our Riverboat, what we do in our summer months on Lake Scugog which is only 45 minutes form home, great pickerel ( walleye) fishing. Your Ray Romano did the Mooseport movie in Port Perry which is the town on the lake.

Take care
Janet

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 09:05 AM

Janet,

So sorry to hear of your transport problems. What a bummer. There's no need to apologise for anything. I'm glad you got it back, and hopefully, resolved. Having lived on the Oregon coast, I know the value of reliable transportation.---- And it will be grand to hear The Bird Rocks done the "right" way!

Art

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 08 Feb 06 - 03:01 PM

Ms. Howard,

What a marvelous tape. Thank you so very much. It's grand to hear that sung thr "correct way"!!-----------And, also, the song "The Maid On The Shore".-----Now I know where Stan Rogers probably found and learned it. Stan's rendition was on his LP called FOR THE FAMILY. I take it that he included it because it was a favorite of folks closest to him.

The sound quality was good---even better after lowering the bass and running the treble up higher. (No treble at all for me to do that. (pun intended ;-)

Today is laundry day again, and I will be doing that the rest of the afternoon. But I will return...

Again, thank you! It is always a wondrous thing to me to realize I have made it closer to the roots of these songs than I might've ever hoped.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From:
Date: 09 Feb 06 - 10:31 AM

Good Morning,

I hate laundry too, so glad you enjoyed the tape, Nan would be so pleased to know after all this time her voice still makes an impact.

Janet

Subject: Origins: Bird Rocks - a Newfoundland Song.
From: Anglogeezer
Date: 15 Mar 06 - 03:27 PM

Soo, for those of you interested in this song; it seems the events referred to took place in April 1880.

Check out this site for the full story - www.lhdigest.com/Digest/StoryPage.cfm?StoryKey=1936

When I first read the words of the song it seemed to have the ring of truth and I'm pleased to discover some facts that bear this out.

Whilst the song does differ from the exact story I think that we can allow the writer some leeway, either for dramatic licience or hazy memory of the events!!

Jake

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From:
Date: 15 Mar 06 - 09:53 PM

Dear Jake,
How wonderful to put reality to a song, I,m sure today with a satellite dish and all the toys and a generator it would be a great place to spend some time, in Nan's time, very hard to imagine!! In the history of the east coast, any family could tell of loss to the sea.
Janet

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walte
From: Anglogeezer
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 04:21 PM

A correction to my post of 15 th March.
The events took place in March 1897 NOT April 1880.
My apologies for leading anyone astray!!
Jake

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 25 May 06 - 12:36 AM

May 23, 2006 --- refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From: Art Thieme
Date: 06 Aug 09 - 01:06 PM

REFRESH -- for Anita Best !

Art

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From: Art Thieme
Date: 06 Aug 09 - 08:15 PM

again

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From: GUEST,Anita
Date: 16 Aug 09 - 06:06 PM

Thanks Art,
I am following up on a number of leads, here in Newfoundland and at the LOC.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From: GUEST,Beth Clarke, relative of Annie Walters
Date: 27 May 15 - 07:16 AM

Looking for recordings of Annie Walters, if anyone is still following these posts. Thank you!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From: maeve
Date: 27 May 15 - 04:29 PM

Guest Beth Clarke, you've asked your question on the very day we've learned of our dear Art Thieme's death. I'll keep this thread refreshed for a few days in hope someone will be able to help you find Annie Walters' recordings. Did you see the posts from Janet Howard, Annie's granddaughter? She included an email address and telephone number. She had a recording.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From: GUEST,Janet Howard (Ivy's daughter)
Date: 25 Jul 15 - 10:47 AM

Hi Beth,
By the last name you must be one of Aunt Blanche's grandchildren, I believe I was named after Janet Clarke, have a new email address and would love to hear from you, living in Halifax NS now and have lots of stuff by Nan
Please give me a note or call
[e-mail]
902 826 1949

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Recovery Ward 2015
From: GUEST,Janet Howard(Annie Walters Granddaughter)
Date: 25 Jul 15 - 11:00 AM

Hello,
Saw the post from Beth Clarke and did send a reply, hoping she sees it but was wondering if you had her actual email address or if you could send her mine ( it's different from the one that was on the threads) [e-mail]
Many thanks
Janet

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From: maeve
Date: 25 Jul 15 - 06:22 PM

Janet, as far as I know, no one here knows Beth. We'll have to hope she returns to see your messages.

Maeve

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From: GUEST,Lynn Noel
Date: 29 Jul 15 - 08:37 PM

Delighted to find this thread. I've sung The Bird Rocks for years and am finally getting around to recording it, as a bonus track for the re-release of my 1988 album Crosscurrents. I made the original cassette while working at Gros Morne in 1987 and have many happy memories of campfire sings at Lobster Cove Head. I'm only sorry I wasn't able to meet Mrs. Waters, as she was no longer taking visits from folklorists. However, I'd love to send a copy to the family if you send me an address, [e-mail]. The digital download should be released by the fall: here's the album page on my website where you can listen to streaming tracks.

http://www.lynnoel.com/crosscurrents/recordings/crosscurrents/

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bird Rocks (from Mrs. Annie Walters)
From: GUEST,Janet Howard(Annie Walters Granddaughter)
Date: 17 Aug 15 - 07:21 PM

Hello Lynn, just returned from vacation and able to reply. I would love to have a copy will send address via e mail
Many thanks Janet