songs about 'Gone a Coasting?'

Subject: Any songs about 'Gone a Coasting?'
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Oct 00 - 10:06 AM

This came up on a Nova Scotia list serve. I thought some of you might find it interesting and I also would be interested to know if there are any songs specifically about it. Thanks. From the list:

"Can anyone tell me what the phrase, "Gone a Coasting" might mean in Nova Scotia. I found it in some N.S. records, fishing? pirating? or what?"

"There were two types of trade in the days of sail. One was essentially global in scope and normally involved large usually square rigged ships crossing the oceans of the world. The "coastal" trade involved usually smaller and more handy vessels trading among the smaller maritime communities as well as along the American seaboard. These small vessels were often termed "coasters". These vessels also were the training schools for budding deep sea sailors. "Gone coasting" would be the explanation for the absence of these people from their usual haunts. Modern shipping generally falls into the same two categories as seen in the days of sail-- Coasting and Deep Sea.

"Would "Gone Coasting" also be signing on as a deck hand for doing deliveries along the coast. I expect that this would often be to fill in the time between crops or other seasonal work? The maritimes had very few roads and there must have been a lot of delivery work to do (freight, food, and other supplies) and often not enough hands to fully man the ships.

"It seems to me that I've heard this term used in yet another way where guys would travel along from port to port just looking for work or od jobs and partying a bit along the way with old friends. Not much has changed eh!"

Subject: RE: Any songs about 'Gone a Coasting?'
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Oct 00 - 10:07 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Any songs about 'Gone a Coasting?'
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Oct 00 - 10:08 AM

refresh