Hi again,

Sorry, I'm not really well versed in folk music, am really just starting to learn. I know there are dozens of versions, and I know that Great Big Sea has done a lot of re-making of the traditional stuff, changing the lyrics a bit. They do all Maritimes/Newfoundland versions of the songs.

Scolding Wife:
Well I came into a scolding wife a few short years ago
And ever since I lead a life of misery and woe
My wife she is a tyrant around the grooming
Ah she'd sell me to the devil for a glass or two of gin
Chorus:
And if the devil'd take her I'd thank him for his pain
I swear to God I'll hang meself if I get married again
And if the devil'd take her I'd thank him for his pain
Though I swear to God I'll hang myself if I get married again

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There's more verses than that, but I don't want to overburden. The whole song is at:
http://www.geocities.com/greatbigsea_alex/sonclyrics.html#wife
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Donkey Riding, I suppose it would be the 'Canadian' version.
--
Was you ever in Quebec
Launchin' timber on the deck?
Where ya break yer bleedin' neck
Ridin' on a donkey!

Was you ever 'round Cape Horn
Where the weather's never warm?
Wished to God you'd never been born
Ridin' on a donkey.

Was you ever in Miramichi
Where ye tie up to a tree,
An' the girls sit on yer knee?
Ridin' on a donkey

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What I'm mainly looking for is just a little blurb about the root of the song, where it came from, and what the history surrounding it is. Like whether or not it was originally a Newfoundland song, or if it was derived from other sources. I'm running an hour of music, and between each song, I hope to talk a bit about the history of it. I'd really like to find out more about Barque in the Harbor. I've heard it's quite an old one.

I'll check my library at my college, but it's not the best library, and I don't think I'm allowed to check out books from the local university. I might go there and do some research.

Thanks very much for your help so far,

Robin