Was just talking to me brudder. He says that the chorus given in Stuart McCawley's book is a little different - well, significantly different:

Way down in East Cape Breton, where they knit the sock and mitten,
Chezzetcookers represented by the dusky black and tan,
May they never be selected, and home rule be protected,
And always be connected with the honest working man.


Me brudder thinks that the "Chezzetcookers" were Acadians from the mainland (not necessarily just from Chezzetcook) coming to Cape Breton to work, and were about as popular as the Newfoundlanders. A couple of points interesting in relation to previous posts. The word "dusky" instead of "husky" would seem to lend support to Beer's interpretation, because "dusky" was a description often used for dark complexion, at the time in question. Also, this version of the chorus is closer to that sung by Stan James, as reported by mg, so maybe he really does sing it the way he heard it, and I shouldn't have been so prickly about it!

My brother says he takes "home rule" to be the idea that it should be Cape Bretoners running things in Cape Breton, and not the Newfoundlanders and mainland Acadians who keep coming in to take jobs.

Re: The verse about taking the "three-ton schooner" up the Western Shore. Bro says this is referring to the Newfoundlanders going back home in the fall - they would go up the western coast of Cape Breton as it is sheltered, and by the time they pass Cape North, they're half-way home.

I've contacted Clary Croft; he's going to send along some info. in awhile, when he gets some time ...