Locations in Newfoundland song

Subject: RE: Locations in Newfoundland song
From: mg
Date: 03 Sep 11 - 02:59 AM

It's not always up to her knees. mg

Subject: RE: Locations in Newfoundland song
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 02 Sep 11 - 09:43 PM

I was told this as well, in Bonavista, by a born-and-bred Newfie. But looking at the map I see that Fogo, Twillingate, and Moreton's Harbour are lined up more or less east to west and so returning to Fogo would seem to be more like retracing your voyage than completing a circle. But perhaps local wind and current patterns mean more in this context than compass bearing. According to Neil Rosenberg's notes about "I's De B'y" in Vinland Publishing's Newfoundland song book, the song dates from the 19th century, sail-and-oar days. Rosenberg says nothing about "circle", but apparently "gravel" as in "up to her knees" is a local dialect word for "mud" and does not refer to a whole bunch of tiny little rocks at all.

Subject: RE: Locations in Newfoundland song
From: Charmion
Date: 02 Sep 11 - 09:35 PM

Some versions have Harbour Grace instead of Moreton's Harbour. I imagine there are more variations.

Subject: RE: Locations in Newfoundland song
From: mg
Date: 02 Sep 11 - 09:22 PM

I THINK the islands make a circle is what they meant. That is what I was told anyway. mg

Subject: RE: Locations in Newfoundland song
From: Snuffy
Date: 02 Sep 11 - 09:08 AM

Fogo (49.714713,-54.279842), Twillingate (49.647959,-54.76367), and Moreton's Harbour (49.570037,-54.863148) are all off the North coast of Newfoundland, while Bonavista (48.652531,-53.10997) is on the "mainland".

No idea whether this is right, wrong, or nonsense but I've always assumed that after hipping your partner, you had to go "All around the circle" and back to place, with Fogo, Twillingate and Moreton's Harbour being the other three dancers you passed on the way.

Subject: RE: Locations in Newfoundland song
From: GUEST,999
Date: 02 Sep 11 - 08:56 AM

"I assume that the first three are place names"

Indeed they are. They should be on Google maps.

When some of the Newfoundlanders see the thread you'll get a definitive answer I suspect.

Subject: RE: Locations in Newfoundland song
From: GUEST,999
Date: 02 Sep 11 - 08:53 AM

'Fogo, Twilingate,Morton's Harbour, All around the circle.'



Fogo, Twillingate and Moreton's Harbour.

As for the circle, I think it refers to the dance configuration, but that's just an opinion. There have been other threads on 'I'ze the Bye', but I don't know how to locate them.

Subject: Locations in Newfoundland song
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 02 Sep 11 - 07:48 AM

In the chorus to Newfoundland song 'I'ze the Bye' we get 'Fogo, Twilingate,Morton's Harbour, All around the circle.' I assume that the first three are place names, but what about 'all around the circle?' Does it refer to any location, or since this song could be used as mouth music for dancing, is it simply a dance call? All help appreciated. Burl.