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Lyr Req: Excursion around the Bay (Johnny Burke)

22 Jan 97 - 02:21 AM (#1544)
Subject: req: Excursion Around the Bay
From: Karen

I'm looking for the lyrics to a traditional Newfoundland song called "Excursion Around the Bay." Can anyone help me out?

06 Sep 98 - 09:57 PM (#37270)
Subject: LYR REQ: Excursion around the Bay
From: vstockin@epsb@edmonton.ab.ca

I am having a heck of a time to find the words to this song on the net. Does anyone have them??

09 Sep 98 - 09:56 PM (#37694)
Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Excursion around the Bay
From: rich r

Can you supply any more information. Where you heard it, some of the words you remember, the subject matter, whatever.

rich r

12 Sep 98 - 07:38 PM (#37989)
Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Excursion around the Bay
From: Tim Jaques tjaques@netcom.ca

Great Big Sea sings it. I don't think the lyrics are that hard to make out but I haven't my CD at hand. It isn't in the two books of Newfoundland songs that I have.

30 Sep 98 - 08:38 PM (#40086)
Subject: Need Lyr:Excursion around the bay
From: Leo

Does any one know this song? A version is sung by Great Big Sea, but I haven't found the album it is on.

01 Oct 98 - 05:44 PM (#40225)
Subject: RE: Need Lyr:Excursion around the bay
From: Tim Jaques tjaques@netcom.ca

You can buy it at http://www.bpm.on.ca , a concern with which I have no connection except for buying CD's from them.

26 Oct 00 - 11:30 AM (#327792)
Subject: RE: Need Lyr:Excursion around the bay
From: GUEST,ursa

I don't know the lyrics but the song is on their new live cd "road rage". just saw tem here in Pittsburgh a couple of weeks ago. absolutely loved them!

26 Oct 00 - 12:24 PM (#327828)
Subject: RE: Need Lyr:Excursion around the bay
From: Clinton Hammond2

One of the few songs that GBS has done that I can actually stomach...

EXCURSION AROUND THE BAY

Well it was on this Monday morning and the day being calm and fine
To the Harbor Grace Excursion with the boys to have a time
And just before a sailor took the gangway from the pier
I saw some fellow haul my wife aboard as a volunteer

Oh Me Oh My I heard m' old one cry
Oh Me Oh My I Think I'm Gonna Die
Oh Me Oh My I heard my old wife say
I wish I'd never taken this excursion around the bay

We had full three hundred souls on board oh what a splendid sight
Massed strong and regimental to make our spirits bright
And m'self being in the double All the funny things they'd say
They'd choke themselves with laughing when they'd see us in the bay

My wife she got no better she turned a sickly green
I fed her cake and candy, Fried pork and kerosene
Castor Oil and sugar rock candy I rubbed pure oil on her face
And I said she'll be a dandy when we reaches Harbor Grace

My wife she got no better my wife m' darling dear
The screeches from Etrollia (sp?) you could hear in Carbonear
I tried every place in Harbor Grace I tried every store and shop
To get her something for a cure or take her to the Hop'

She died below the Brandy's as we where coming back
We buried her in the ocean wrapped up in a Union Jack
So now I am a single man in search of a pretty face
And the woman that say's she'll have me I'm off by Harbor Grace

So there ya have it.. wear it in good heath or whatever...

{~`

01 Sep 01 - 05:04 PM (#539816)
Subject: Lyr Add: EXCURSION AROUND THE BAY
From: GUEST,Sorcha

Excursion Around The Bay

- traditional

Well it was on this Monday morning
And the day be calm and fine
A harbour grace excursion
With the boys who had the time
And just before the sailor
Took the gangway from the pier
I saw some fellow haul me wife
Aboard as a volunteer

(chorus)
Oh me, oh my, I heard me old wife cry
Oh me, oh my, I think I'm gonna die!
Oh me, oh my, I heard me old wife say,
"I wish I'd never taken this excursion around the bay"
We had fourteen hundred souls aboard, oh what a splendid sight!
Left stong and regimental to make our spirits bright
And meself being in the double, when a funny things they'd say
They choke themselves from laughing when they'd see us in the bay

(chorus)

Me wife she got no better, she turned a sickly green
I fed her cake and candy, fat pork and kerosene
Castor Oil and sugar of candy, I rubbed pure oil on her face
And I said she'll be a dandy when we reaches Harbour Grace!

(chorus)

My wife she got no better, my wife me darling dear
The screeches from her trollear could hear in Carbonear
I tried every place in Harbour Grace,
Tried every store and shop,
To get her something for a cure or take her to the hop

(chorus)

She died below the brandy's as we were coming back
We buried her in the ocean, wrapped up in a Union Jack
So now I am a single man, in search of a pretty face
And the woman that says she'll have me, I'm off for Harbour Grace!

(chorus)

28 Oct 01 - 09:28 PM (#581664)
Subject: Lyr Add: EXCURSION AROUND THE BAY (Johnny Burke)
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca

Excursion Around the Bay

It was early Monday morning and the day been calm and fine
To the Harbor Grace excursion with the boys to have a time
And just before the sailor pulled the gang way from the pier
I saw some fella haul me wife aboard as a volunteer
 
Chorus
O Me O My I heard me poor wife cry
O Me O My I think I'm gonna die
O Me O My I heard me poor wife say
I wish I'd never taken this excursion around the bay
 
We had three hundred souls on board, oh what a splendid sight
Both strong and regimental to make our spirits bright
With me self being in the double with the funny things they'd say
And they'd choke themselves from laughing when they see us in the bay
 
Now me wife she got no better She turned a sickly green
I gave her soap and candy fat pork and gasoline
Castor-oil and sugar of candy I rubbed hair oil on her face
And they said she'd be a dandy when she reaches Harbour Grace
 
My wife she got no better, my wife my darling dear
The screeches from her trolly you could hear in Carbonear
I searched every place in Harbor Grace, searched every store and shop,
To get her something for the cure or take her to the hop.
 
She died below the Brandy's as we were coming back
We buried her in the ocean wrapped up in the Union Jack
And now I am a single man in search of a pretty face
And the woman who says she'll have me, sure I'm off for Harbour Grace.

02 Jan 10 - 02:31 AM (#2801237)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Excursion around the Bay
From: Joe Offer

It's hard for me to believe that this is traditional. Anybody have source and background information for this song, and are the lyrics correct?
-Joe-

02 Jan 10 - 04:43 AM (#2801279)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Excursion around the Bay
From: Terry McDonald

I wouldn't have regarded it as 'trad' either, but it's listed as such on Great Big Sea's first album. However, the notes to the song add 'tradition attributes this song to Johnny Burke, a turn-of-the-century St John's songwriter.'

02 Jan 10 - 09:04 AM (#2801405)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Excursion around the Bay
From: Sandy Mc Lean

Mudcatter GEST on his excellent site of Newfoundland music attributes it to Johnny Burke as well.