Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador

Subject: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: Jim Lad
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 12:38 PM

I'm hoping some of you will point me to your favourite songs of Newfoundland & Labrador.
Not even a little bit interested in "Great Big Sea".
Anything in the public domain is what I'm after.
Thank You in advance.
Jim

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 12:44 PM

Dare's dis here'n, Jim, me ol' trout: a great big whack of songs (GEST Songs of Newfoundland and Labrador).

http://nfldsongs.tripod.com/ (Songs of Newfoundland and Labrador)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: Jim Lad
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 01:01 PM

Thank You my son! I will use that as a resource. I am really interested in hearing what folks' individual favourites are though.
Tickle Cove Pond, Lights of Labrador & Star of Logy Bay are the style I'm after.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 01:20 PM

Well then:

Kelligrew's Soiree
The Ryans & The Pittmans (We'll Rant & We'll Roar)
Squid-jiggin' Ground
The Old Polina
Aunt Martha's Sheep
Sweet Forget-Me-Not
The Badger Drive
Get Your Duds in Order
Old Brown's Daughter
Feller From Fortune (Bonavist Harbour)
I's de B'y
Tiny Red Light (not a favourite of mine, but very popular)
Sonny's Dream (!)
Jack Was Every Inch a Sailor
Take Me Back to Cape St. Mary's

Well, there's a start off the top o' me noggin. I loiks'm all. A few not in the public domain: Tiny Red Light?, Sonny's Dream, Aunt Martha's Sheep?, Cape St. Mary's? I'd check those ones.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: GUEST,Terry McDonald
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 01:24 PM

She's Like the Swallow.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 01:25 PM

Check out Amber Music, with Anita Best, Pamela Morgan, Emile Benoit, many more...check out O'Brien's Music store in St. John's if it is still around...mg

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: Jim Lad
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 01:26 PM

The composer of Cape St. Mary is still alive. (or at least he was a couple of years ago) The list is good.
What I'm looking for is, if somebody asked you "What's your favourite?" what would you say?
You're not getting out of here 'til you or someone gets it right.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: beetle cat
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 01:41 PM

http://www.mun.ca/folklore/leach/songs/NFLD.htm
That is a link to Macedward Leach's collection of Newfoundland songs, there are audio clips of the field recordings as well... pretty darn cool.

As for my personal favorite, it is really hard to say. There are just so many songs here in NL.

Did Ron Hynes write Sonny's dream? I know that some contemp NL singer did. Dick Nolan and Ellis Coles wrote Aunt Martha's Sheep. I guess that is the way of it though, if you go writing folksongs, you cant really expect to get credit for them. They are so commonly accepted as trad now that issues of public domain are questionable.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: beetle cat
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 01:43 PM

Jim, is there just one correct answer?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 01:45 PM

Try
http://www.mun.ca/folklore/leach/songs/index.html

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: Jim Lad
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 01:46 PM

AAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrggggghhhhhhhh!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: Jim Lad
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 01:50 PM

Did Ron Hynes write Sonny's dream? Yes.
I want to put 4 Newoundland/Labrador songs on my next album. I can get my hands on any number of lists. So now I want to know what folks would like to hear.
"if you go writing folk songs, you cant really expect to get credit for them."....... Beetle Cat: I thinks I loves you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 02:03 PM

Well, we aren't familiar with your musical style, although I knowyou have put some stuff up...

The Badger Drive is a great song. Petty Harbor Bait Skiff..I have almost never heard that sung but tune is beautfiul. Maybe one of the Ocean Ranger songs..

Oh great one...about towing the houses to St. Lawrence...Ennis Sisters? mg

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: GUEST,Terry McDonald
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 02:07 PM

It's 'Out from St Leonards' mg.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: Jim Lad
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 02:10 PM

It's a very short hop from my stuff (traditional Scots and Irish) to the music of Newfoundland & Labrador. I understand perfectly that most of you don't know my style. Not a problem. I promise not to hurt the songs. I think I've heard the one about moving the house but it's a bit foggy, right now.
Any more favourites, anyone?
I'll be taking notes.
Cheers.
Jim

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: beetle cat
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 02:17 PM

Are you the Terry McDonald from MUN who ran for VP internal? Somehow, I didn't expect you to be a mudcatter

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: GUEST,Terry McDonald
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 02:35 PM

Sorry, Beetle Cat, I'm not that one, thought I do know of him. I've several friends at MUN, in the History and Folklore Departments. I'm in Poole, Dorset.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 02:41 PM

Feeling a little better now, Jim? Having given your request considerable thought, I put my vote in for Northern Lights of Labrador - it's a beautiful song that deserves a wider audience.

Having said that - I don't know if it's public domain; it's a fairly modern song.

"The composer of Cape St. Mary is still alive. (or at least he was a couple of years ago)" -

I believe he's been gone for good while now, Jim ... I think time's starting to slip away on you ...

I can't really choose among those others I listed; they're all great songs.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: Jim Lad
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 02:46 PM

The T.V. did a short piece on him on his birthday while I was still living in Margaree or shortly after. So it can't be more than 2 or 3 years.
Thanks.
Jim

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: Jim Lad
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 03:20 PM

I like your choice, Meself. Why are you a guest?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 03:47 PM

Because I don't like to make my own tea!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: Jim Lad
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 03:52 PM

Good one!
Still looking for "Favourites" here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 04:08 PM

I just did a little googling, and - you have no idea how it pains me to say this - but, with the greatest reluctance, I begrudgingly admit, that this time, and this time only, it looks like, apparently, Jim Lad may seemingly be almost right, and I, this time and this time only, may possibly, and quite uncharacteristically, be, if not wrong, not wholly fasitidiously correct, in the pedantic sense of word. It does seemingly appear that the composer of Let Me Fish Off Cape St. Mary's, Otto Kelland, passed away in the summer of 2004.

Incidentally, I once heard a recording of a "singing cowboy" - I believe it was Gene Autry - on the radio doing a song to that same melody. Kelland claimed to have composed the tune and is given credit for it, so whether the tune made it to Hollywood or whether it is actually an older tune that Kelland thought he wrote, or whether he unconsciously got it from that same cowboy recording - who knows?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: Beer
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 04:22 PM

Hard Times (maybe it is called "And it's a Hard Time")as sung by Ron Hynes.
Grey Foggy Day by ?
No Change in Me.Ron Hynes
My Old Home by ?
No More Fish, No Fisherman
Sea People
Saint John's by Glenn Simmons.

Short list of the ones me likes.
Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: Jim Lad
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 04:41 PM

Thanks Adrien:
             Know what? They're all great. I'll just tick off my own favourites, one at a time, until I have four good public domain, Newfoundland & Labrador songs.
Thanks again.
Jim

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 04:42 PM

"And It's Hard, Hard Times" (don't know if RH gives it that title)
Sea People is by Alisdair MacGillvary

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 04:42 PM

West County?? Lady by Dermot O'Reilly..he is from Ireland but it is a great song about a Newfoundland woman.   He just recently died...RIP. mg

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: Jim Lad
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 05:03 PM

Ah yes. I know some of his friends who couldn't make it to the funeral due to stormy weather.
You know, this music awakens the same passion in me that my own traditional music does. It's not just the borrowed tunes either. More the simplicity of the words and arrangements and the plain, honest delivery of the whole package. I love the stuff.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: Beer
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 06:11 PM

Hi Jim.
Excuse my ignorance but I just found out who you are by going to your thread titled "Spring Cleaning". I sang "The Hills of Margaree" last month to my mother. My sister from N.S. introduced it to me a few years back when I was home for a visit. Absolutely love the way you sing and put feeling into a great simple song. Incidentally, my ancestors are from the Maragree Valley.

Later tonight I will dig out my Maritime song collection and go over them more carefully now that I can put a voice to the music you wish to do.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: Jim Lad
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 06:19 PM

Who's your sister? and did we not go over this before or was it two other people?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: Beer
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 06:53 PM

My sister's name is Judy from a small village called West Chezzetcook N.S. And no, I don't think we went over this before. Mind you I have been told that I'm getting forgetful.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: Jim Lad
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 07:12 PM

That would be off the main highway I suppose. I've never been into West Chezzetcook. Now didn't you tell me the last names of your relatives in Cape Breton? Aucoin or something? or Doucette?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 07:18 PM

O'Coyne? Now that would be from County Clare, I suppose ...

(as Denis Ryan once said to me ol' bandmate).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: Jim Lad
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 07:21 PM

That's good so, you're not losing it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 09:53 AM

The Newfoundland song on my daily playlist right now is Great Big Sea (the song, not the band)--not widely recorded and a very nifty little song. Georgie Snooks is going to find married life exciting but not easy, I think. Also hard to find on CD (in my collection anyway) is Newfoundland's national dance tune Mussels In The Corner done as a song. I think maybe Newfoundlanders regard it as too hackneyed to record.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 10:07 AM

"I think maybe Newfoundlanders regard it as too hackneyed to record."

Although, any version I've heard consists mainly of a string of jibes at baymen, so that may have something to do with why it doesn't get recorded much ... Being hackneyed does not seem to slow down "I's de B'y"!

Another good old timer is Lukey's Boat (NOT the GBS version) ...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: Jim Lad
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 10:22 AM

I love the old version.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 10:23 AM

(GBS = George Bernard Shaw, of course. His humour gets a little too subtle).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: Jim Lad
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 10:50 AM

One of your finer contributions, Meself.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: Vinland
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 11:38 AM

Jim,

I assume you'd like to have a few lesser known Nfld ballads. My personal favourites are 'The Green Shores of Fogo', 'The Blooming Bright Star of Belle Isle' (this song was recorded by Bob Dylan back in the 70s, though he added his own melody), 'Maid of Newfoundland', 'Petty Harbour Bait Skiff' (I prefer it shortened to 6 verses), 'Pride of the Season', The Greenland Disaster', and 'The Emigrant from Newfoundland' and 'She's Like the Swallow' (hardly lesser know but still worth recording).

At the risk of self-promotion, all these songs are available in my 'Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador' series of songbooks (www.vinlandmusic.ca) except 'The Blooming Bright Star of Belle Isle' which I plan to have in the next collection.

There are lots of fine songs being written in Nfld all the time which you would probably like, but I assume you want to avoid the hassles of optaining copyright clearance, etc.

BTW the melody of "Let Me Fish Off Cape St. Mary's" appears to be based on an American song from the 30s called "The Hills of Wyoming". In any case, the melody seems to me to be derived from the British ballad 'Barbera Allen'. That's the folk process I guess...

Eric

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: bubblyrat
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 12:33 PM

My favourite is "Squid -Jigging Ground "----I first heard it in 1965, in the "Half Moon " in Yeovil, sung by excellent duo, " Terry and Allan " . Terry was naval test-pilot Lt.Cmdr. Terry Kemp, whilst Allan was a corporal in the RAF. They specialised in stuff like that, that was really lesser-known, and God bless "em for it !! I wonder where they are today ??

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: Jim Lad
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 01:11 PM

I think "Squid Jiggin' Ground" is copy right. I looked yesterday and I do like the song. Copy rights is what I want to avoid but still want to do songs with which Newfoundlanders can identify and also bring these songs to others. Great Big Sea is to Newfoundland Music what The Pogues are to Irish music. I can't turn it around after they've messed with it.
I am following all leads and am glad to find that many of these songs come with midi files.
The Lights of Labrador & The Northern Lights of Labrador. Two different songs or am I screwing up again?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 01:25 PM

I assume we're talking about the same song ("I've travelled far, by the northern star,/From the day that I was born;/From the Caribbean to New Orleans,/I've been inclined to roam", etc.). As far as I know, the person that wrote it is living, but whether it was ever copyrighted (copywrote?) I don't know.

"Squid-jiggin' Ground" was written by Vernon Scannell, when he was fifteen, as a school assignment. He became a journalist, and I believe died sometime in the past thirty years.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: Jim Lad
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 01:33 PM

http://vinlandmusic.ca/

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: Vinland
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 03:00 PM

'The Northern Lights of Labrador' was written by Don Fulford, whom I believe is still alive. The song was popularized by the singing duo Corey and Trina back in the 70s.

The 'Squid-Jiggin' Ground' was written by A.R. Scammell of Change Islands. He went on to become a university professor and writer. The tune of the song is public domain (it's based on the Irish fiddle tune 'Larry O'Gaff') but the lyrics are still copyright.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 03:04 PM

A.R. Scammell vs. Vernon Scannell; professor vs. jounrnalist - witness the folk-process in action!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: bubblyrat
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 03:38 PM

Reminds me of that Cyril Sharke bloke what collected folk-songs !!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 03:42 PM

Wasn't his name Cyrus Sharpey - and didn't he collect bottle-caps?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: Beer
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 10:34 PM

Hi Jim.
Here are a few more tunes that I thought you might want to consider.
The Rocks of Merasheen
Comforts of Home ( Buddy Whatshisname..)
Raw Material
Where did Old Yesterday Go
My Old Home
The Government Game (as sung to the tune of Patriot Game.)


I hope you don't mine because I'm going to add 3 others which are not Newfoundland songs but never the less one's that i think your voice would fit well with. Maybe you could look at them if you decide on a further project.
Cape Breton Home
Annapolis valley
Peter Emberley
Frozen Charlotte

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 03:45 AM

I don't know enough to have a favourite, but Bay Of Fundy is a good song.
@displaysong.cfm?SongID=542