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DTStudy: Mussels in the Corner DigiTrad: MUSSELS IN THE CORNER |
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Subject: DTStudy: Mussels in the Corner From: Joe Offer Date: 15 Apr 08 - 01:05 PM This is an edited DTStudy thread, and all messages posted here are subject to editing and deletion. This thread is intended to serve as a forum for corrections and annotations for the Digital Tradition song named in the title of this thread. Search for other DTStudy threadsI came across this song today, and it piqued my curiosity. I found nothing about it in the Traditional Ballad Index or Roud, and very little has been posted about it at Mudcat. Can anybody supply background information, other versions, and related songs? -Joe- Here's what we have in the Digital Tradition: MUSSELS IN THE CORNER 1. I took Nellie to a ball, Nellie wouldn't dance at all Nailed her up against the wall, Left her there till Sunday. Chorus 'Deed I am in love with you Out all night in the foggy dew 'Deed I am in love with you, Mussels in the corner. 2. Ask a bayman for a smoke, He will say his pipe is broke Ask a bayman for a chew He will bite it off for you. 3. Here they come as thick as flies Dirty shirts and dirty ties Dirty rings around their eyes Dirty old Torbay men. 4. All the people in Belle Isle Don't get up till half past nine Wash their face in kerosene ile Polly, you're a corker! 5. Elsie Murray, she's so fine, Don't get up til half past nine Won't get up to feed the swine Dirty Elsie Murray. 6. Here they come in dirty coats, Baymen in their little boats Wonder that she ever floats Dirty old Torbay men. @Canada @dance filename[ MUSSLCRN TUNE FILE: MUSSLCRN CLICK TO PLAY JB apr96 The song Harbour Grace ends with the phrase "Mussels in the Corner," but that's the only connection I see. Previous mentions at Mudcat:
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Subject: RE: DTStudy: Mussels in the Corner From: TheSnail Date: 15 Apr 08 - 01:15 PM Elsie Murray is clearly a Canadian cousin of Elsie Marley or Eppie Marly. |
Subject: ADD Version: Mussels in the Corner From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 15 Apr 08 - 01:18 PM Lyrics and a 'record' number of players listed for this trad. Newfoundland song. 989 players on accordion to set a world record, 2005. Wikipedia. Mussels in the Corner Here's the text of the Wikipedia entry, with lyrics slightly different from what we have: In 2005, nine hundred and eighty-nine musicians gathered in St. John's at the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival to play "Mussels in the Corner" on accordions to set a world record for simultaneous accordion playing. (sounds even more impressive than the annual gathering of accordions playing "Lady of Spain" in Cotati, California -Joe-)Mussels in the Corner Chorus:
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Subject: RE: DTStudy: Mussels in the Corner From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 15 Apr 08 - 01:35 PM AKA "Dirty Old Torbay Men." Origin may be Irish. See www.thesession.org. The Session Many recordings. Originally the Gmajor polka "Maggie in the Woods." AKA An BhFaca Tú Mo Shéamaisin? Recorded by the Chieftains and Foggy Dew. Lyrics from the Chieftains: If I had Maggie in the Woods I'd do her all the good I could If I had Maggie in the woods I'd keep her there till morning. The Chieftains wrote an answering verse because they had a female in their group: You won't have me, not in the woods For I fear that you mean me no good So go on back to yer dear old mum And I'll see you in the morning. Data from pages of The Session, linked top of this post. |
Subject: ADD Version: Mussels in the Corner From: Joe Offer Date: 15 Apr 08 - 01:44 PM Here's the version from thesession.org: Mussels In The Corner/Dirty Old Torbay Men THE quintessential Newfoundland tune. Well, maybe after I'se The Bye. I don't know how this tune relates to the Maggie In The Woods/Mussels In The Corner trad. tune as far as origins go. There are more verses as well. # Posted on May 8th 2007 by Chellam This is the basic version of our Newfoundland dance tune. A.K.A. Dirty Old Torbay Men Verse Lyrics Chorus: Deed I am in love with you Out all night in the foggy dew Deed I am in love with you Mussels in the corner Ask a bayman for a smoke He will say his pipe is broke Ask a bayman for a chew He will bite it off for you (chorus) Here they are as thick as flies Dirty shirts and dirty ties Dirty rings around their eyes Dirty old Torbay men (chorus) # Posted on May 8th 2007 by Chellam ..transpose to higher keys as you wish ...nice to vary up into next octave after a few runs through e.g. GFED|B,DE2|dBGA|BAAz| GFED|B,DE2|dBAB|G2G2| BBAG|Bde2|dBGA|BAAz| BBAG| Bde2|dBAB|G2G2 ...and back to first run again ... the choice of polka gives the 2/4 |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: Mussels in the Corner From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 15 Apr 08 - 01:51 PM Mick Lowe mentioned it as a session tune in thread 5972. Essential Irish Session Tunes See comments in the Fiddler's Companion, "Knockaboul Polka[1]: Fiddlers Companion |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: Mussels in the Corner From: GUEST,meself Date: 15 Apr 08 - 05:48 PM The "Torbay Men" version reflects a certaom antipathy between the "townies" - residents of St. John's - and the "baymen" - those who lived in the small coastal communites. ................................................. This verse - Here they are as thick as flies Dirty shirts and dirty ties Dirty rings around their eyes Dirty old Torbay men - has a Cape Breton variant (different tune), which may have been the original: Dirty necks and dirty ties, Dirty rings around their eyes, You'd think that they were in disguise, The Dirty Yankee Miners. Refers to a labour situation; Newfoundlanders from the "Yankee Mine" in Nfld were brought in as 'replacement workers' during a strike. Not sure when; my father knew the song ("Dirty Yankee Miners") from his Cape Breton childhood. |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: Mussels in the Corner From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 15 Apr 08 - 06:22 PM Lyr. Add: Mussels in the Corner Flying Folk Army, Duane Murrin. 1 When I was just a lad of nine, I felt as though the world were mine; What I remember most about that time, Were mussels in the corner. 2 Walking in the pouring rain, Can't wait to get home again; Kettle's boiling on the flame, And there's mussels in the corner. 3 When I get home i'll have a bath, And write myself an epitaph; And when I'm done I'll start to laugh, At mussels in the corner. 4 Sitting with a cocky grin, Regardless of the mood they're in; Longing to be thin again, Are mussels in the corner. 5 When I get home I'll have a snack, and give the dog a paddy wack; And throw a nutshell on the stack Of mussels in the corner. 6 And if the pile tumbles down, To cover up the underground; We'll dance in the glorious sound, Of mussels in the corner. 7 Sitting with a cocky grin, Regardless of the mood they're in; Longing to be thin again, Are mussels in the corner. Nonsense lyrics by Duane Murrin. Copied from the great collection, "GEST Songs of Newfoundland and Labrador," GEST Songs of NFLD and LABRADOR |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: Mussels in the Corner From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 15 Apr 08 - 08:11 PM According to MacEdward Leach, the tune "Off She Goes" is the same. Hear it on harmonica on the website "MacEdward Leach and the Songs of Atlantic Canada." Songs of Atlantic Canada This website is a project of Memorial University of Newfoundland. The Digital Archives of the same website, Seldom Come By, have a Video of Melvin Combden playing "Mussels in the Corner" on accordion, two parts, and part of a third from Fogo Island. Collected in 1975, Maureen Power, Evelyn Osborne. ____________________________________________________ See article in "Canadian Folk Music Bulletin," www.yorku.ca/cstm/BulletinIndex.doc Have to leave; perhaps someone will complete this reference. |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: Mussels in the Corner From: GUEST,Maureen Power Date: 10 Feb 13 - 02:39 PM Hi, Myself and Evelyn Osbourne collected the video of Melvin Combden in 2007, not 1975. I wasn't even born then. Just thought I would let you know! Thanks, Maureen |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: Mussels in the Corner From: mg Date: 10 Feb 13 - 06:02 PM Hi Maureen..are you of the Branch Powers? I am fascinated because it seemed that the whole town was named Power or Powers, if I recall correctly. They were quite musical too. |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: Mussels in the Corner From: meself Date: 11 Feb 13 - 12:03 AM The title "Off She Goes" is generally applied to a different tune. |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: Mussels in the Corner From: Sandy Mc Lean Date: 11 Feb 13 - 08:09 PM This tune is blazed in my memory by the late great Harry Hibbs! Harry |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: Mussels in the Corner From: meself Date: 11 Feb 13 - 08:54 PM But that one's instrumental - he sings it here. (And stick around for the rest of the show!) |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: Mussels in the Corner From: GUEST Date: 11 Dec 16 - 01:41 AM My Father who was in Navel Reservers (RCNVR) used to sing this song when I was. Child Glad to see the real lyrics although a little dismayed with the context! |
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