Lyr Req: The Beaver Brig (from Daithi Sproule)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Beaver Brig (from Daithi Sproule)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 Oct 10 - 07:01 PM

The following appears in a list of songs in Ulster Folklife, Vol. 33, (Belfast: Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, 1987), page 14:


27 THE BEAVER BRIG (A new song called)
'The B. b. it's neat and trig, upon yon raging
main'. 6.A(A)BB [=1, 29]. McFarland/
McBride, 47. See Fig. 1.


This publication is classified as "snippet view" only at Google Books, so I can't get any more information there, but I see that a university near me has it in print, so I might be able to get something there.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BEAVER BRIG (from Daithi Sproule)
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Sep 10 - 10:09 PM

Daithi taught this song to our song group tonight and here's the lyrics he handed out (exactly as typed):

The Beaver Brig sits neat and trig all in the month of May,
she hoists her sail with a pleasant gate all on the raging sea,
her crew she been well manned and her anchor she let sway,
as down the Foyle away did toil bound for Amerikay.

The wind it blew from the south-east the weather it was clear,
at nights when I should slumber I think all on my dear,
these words I says unto myself as I did walk alone,
I wish my darling was safe back once more to Inishowen.

Moville it is a pleasant place where fine ships they do lie,
and likewise sweet Magilligan where fine ships they do sail by,
my love she is Diana bright, she's the girl I do adore,
and she's left me here in bondage to lament on Erin's shore.

Had I Peru or Mexico or India's golden store,
I'd gladly share them with my love, she's the girl I do adore,
for want of pen to move my hand for learning I need skill,
and my rural habitation's in the centre of Moville.

I'll pluck the finest flower that grows in the month of May,
I'll take two (three) letters from the herb that's hoist on Patrick's Day,
I'll place those letters carefully that stand at number four,
and they'll spell the name of that fair dame once sailed from Erin's short.

===
He said that the number "two" in the last verse should actually be a 3. Also, that the last verse is actually a riddle that he doesn't know the answer to.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Beaver Brig
From: GUEST,pattyClink
Date: 02 Aug 09 - 07:38 PM

Well, thanks for the leads, Carter and everybody. I guess I need to sit down and transcribe what I can off the Sproule recording, I may be back with some 'what does this garbled place sound like' questions.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Beaver Brig
From: iancarterb
Date: 02 Aug 09 - 01:18 AM

There's a replica of a later Beaver in Victoria, paddle wheels and all, within this decade giving the ocasional harbour tour and school group visit, but now tied up at the fishing terminal, apparently a victim of lack of financial support. (I am chagrined that I don't know more about her situation at present.) There is a mention of her -'Best boat since the Beaver'- in a Bob Bossin song called Towboats, an early and typically quirky Bossin tune (I think one his best) that I first heard in the early 80s in the Queen Charlotte Islands from a naturalist and concertina picker named Bob Sutherland. Really nothing to do with the Beaver per se, but the comparison speaks to the reknown of the name and of the original ship and her successors. Here's the wiki link-
Click
Carter B

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Beaver Brig
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 Aug 09 - 12:21 AM

The Brig Beaver 1792-1812, worked for the Hudson's Bay Company. Records in HBC Archives.

More than one brig with that name.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Beaver Brig
From: EBarnacle
Date: 02 Aug 09 - 12:13 AM

Is this the Beaver which was one of the Tea Party vessels in Boston Harbor?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Beaver Brig
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Aug 09 - 09:59 PM

Here's what I've found from an initial Google search:

The Beaver Brig
From the album A Heart Made Of Glass
© 1993

No lyrics that I could find but perhaps someone else can tease them out.

Charley Noble

Subject: Lyr Req: The Beaver Brig
From: GUEST,pattyClink
Date: 01 Aug 09 - 09:37 PM

Anybody know where I could turn up lyrics to this? Not in the DT, nothing comes up on Google. There is a Daithi Sproule recording, and I have some texts that refer to it, but as for actual lyrics, I could use a lead.