Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 04:17 PM

Terry - Good to hear from you - Wait! That's not a belaying pin you've got there, is it?

Okay, so we've got "walk" in a variant song. Kendall - I didn't think to ask where you got "walk" - was it from a version of Ryans & Pittmans that you learned, was it from a variant such as 'Talcahuano Girls', or was it your own emendation?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: CarolC
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 04:11 PM

Crossposted with you, MMario.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: CarolC
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 04:11 PM

LOL

Looks like 'reef' is a perfectly applicable nautical term...


http://www.sailingusa.info/weather_and_reefing.htm#Reefing%20the%20sails


Reefing the sails   (   Go To Top ) ( Go Back ) When to reef, is a difficult question to answer, since it depends upon the size and stability of your boat. You should consider reefing if your boat is heeling excessively, your crew in uneasy or if you are expecting high winds. If you think about reefing it is best to reef. It should be remembered that it is much easier to reef in the sails at the dock and then if unneeded to un-reef the sails, than it is to reef the sails under high-wind conditions.

    Steps in Reefing:

    1) Loosen the boom vang. You may also need to loosen the mainsail's sheets, if the mainsail is tethered securely in the midline.
    2) Loosen the halyard and carefully lower the mainsail just enough to allow the reefing cringle (grommet) at the sail's luff to be secured to the boom.
    3) Secure the reefing cringle (grommet), forming a new tack. If you are in a high wind situation and need to secure the reefing cringle to a reefing hock or horn, placing a long piece of hard foam in the cringle will help hold it on the hook or horn while you are tightening the mainsail's halyard.
    4) Tighten the jiffy reefing line, securing the reefing cringle (grommet) at the sail's leach, forming a new clew.
    5) Tighten the boom vang.
    6) If possible, secure the reefing lines below the below the foot of the sail and above the boom--see picture below:


-etc.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: MMario
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 04:07 PM

Reef v.
1: lower and bring partially inboard, as of a mast on a
          sailboat
2: roll up (a portion of a sail) in order to reduce its area
3: reduce (a sail) by taking in a reef

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: CarolC
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 04:05 PM

I just asked JtS, and he said he thinks it means to put the sheet on the main boom (or to prepair the sail somehow on the main boom).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: CarolC
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 04:02 PM

I just looked for 'reef' in the Dictionary of Newfoundland English (no mention of it there). It's possible that reef is a variation of 'reeve' [v1 naut 1 'to pass (a rope) through a hole', b 'to thrust or pass (a rod, etc) through any aperture'], and if that's the case, reef the main boom can make sense. Or it could be one of the many lines in Newfoundland songs that are not intended to make any sense (being intended as nonsense lines).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: kendall
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 03:51 PM

Not sure if it is a Newfoundland song or some other Maritime song, but my favorite is titled The Wheelhouse Door.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: GUEST,Terry McDonald
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 03:51 PM

meself - my immediate thought was to think of the Robin and Barry Dransfield song (from A.L.Lloyd) 'Talcahuano Girls' which has the same tune and similar lyrics, and where it's 'I can dance, I can sing, I can walk the jib boom' - I always assumed that it referred to the tricky business of walking along a spar in (probably) dangerous conditions.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: CarolC
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 03:38 PM

Re: "reef the main boom", JtS (Mudcatter Jack the Sailor, from Bay Roberts) says "reef the main boom" is how he's always known it. He also says The Ryans and the Pittmans is his favorite of the ones fully in the public domain. He says Cape St. Mary's is his favorite of those that are considered trad but not fully in the public domain.

My favorite is Ode to Newfoundland.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: GUEST,Terry McDonald
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 03:24 PM

meself - yes, I'm here, but a bit wary of you since you got ratty with me re Glencoe........ I'll have a ponder about your question and get back to you. I'm only half Newfoundland(ic?)but know the province (ex-Dominion)pretty well and have published a couple of articles on its music.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 03:19 PM

http://youtube.com/watch?v=MpGZd6sYUCQ

Here is a youtube of a young Newfoundland woman (I presume) singing West COuntry Lady by D. O'Reilly. I hope someone discovers her and puts her ina festival or something..I really like the way she sings although teh sound quality is not good here. mg

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 02:18 PM

Nope - it must be "wrong". Also, since there is really only one "Pittman", it should be called "The Pittman".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: GUEST,Murray on Salt Spring
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 02:15 PM

Re "The Ryans & the Pittmans" - I asked a long time since about the title, where do the Ryans come in? They don't figure in the song at all. But answer came there none. Any ideas???

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 01:34 PM

I've got a question about "The Ryans & the Pittmans (We'll Rant & We'll Roar)", resulting from a disagreement on another thread about one phrase - I'd be particularly interested to hear from any Newfoundlanders (Terry McDonald, are you out there?) ... but any of you feel welcome to "throw in a boot", so to speak.

Here's the line in question: "I can dance, I can sing, I can reef the main boom."

That's the way I've always sung it, always heard it sung, and always seen it printed.

Kendall says that the phrase should be "walk the main boom" - because "reef the main boom" does not make sense.

So I'm curious as to whether anyone - again, Newfoundlanders in particular - are familiar with the lyric as "walk the main boom" rather than "reef the main boom".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: beetle cat
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 12:20 PM

Hey all, this is a little off topic, but for anyone who is in the St. John's area on the last Thursday of any month, you should stop by the Crow's Nest for the ballad session. It is a great place to learn some lesser known NL songs, and share some of your own. It starts at 8:00.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: Beer
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 08:17 AM

Is Sweet Forget Me Not a Newfoundland song? One of my favorites as well.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: oldhippie
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 07:35 AM

Phyllis Morrissey's "Woman Of The Island".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs of Newfoundland & Labrador
From: Hawker
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 03:52 AM

My favourites are 'Sweet forget me not' and 'She's like a swallow', though I admit I dont know too many.
Cheers, Lucy

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

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: 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: 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 - 03:04 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: 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: Jim Lad
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 01:33 PM

http://vinlandmusic.ca/

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 - 01:11 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: 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: 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: Jim Lad
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 10:50 AM

One of your finer contributions, Meself.

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 - 10:22 AM

I love the old version.

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: 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: 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: 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 - 07:12 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: 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 - 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 - 06:11 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 - 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 - 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 - 03:20 PM

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

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