Citadel Hill

Citadel Hill (Sig-i-nal Hill)

One day in December I'll never forget,
A charming young creature I happily met;
Her eyes shone like diamonds, she was dressed up to kill,
She was tripping and slipping down Citadel Hill.

Sing fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Lidy-I-die.
Sing fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Lidy-I-die.

I says, "My fair creature, you will me excuse!"
I offered my arm and she did not refuse;
Her arm locked in mine made me feel love's sweet thrill,
As we walked off together down Citadel Hill.

Sing fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Lidy-I-die.
Sing fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Lidy-I-die.

The very next day to the church we did go,
The people all whispered, as well you must know;
Said the priest, "Will you wed?" Says I, "That we will!"
So we kissed and were hitched upon Citadel Hill.

Sing fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Lidy-I-die.
Sing fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Lidy-I-die.

So now we are married and of children have three,
But me and the missus can never agree;
The first she called Bridget, the second one Bill,
Says I, "The runt's name shall be Citadel Hill."

Sing fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Lidy-I-die.
Sing fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Lidy-I-die.

Come all you young fellows, take warning by me,
If ever in need of a wife you may be;
I'll tell you the place where you'll get your fill,
Go tripping and slipping down Citadel Hill.

Sing fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Lidy-I-die.
Sing fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Fall-de-dol doodle-dum,
Lidy-I-die.

####.... Collected by Edith Fulton Fowke (Literary Editor) and Richard Johnston (Music Editor) and published in Folk Songs Of Canada, pp.164-165 (Waterloo Music Company, Waterloo, Ontario, 1954) ....####

Notes:
¹ A variant was collected in 1932 from Frank Faulkner as Back Bay Hill by Helen Creighton (1899-1989) in Songs And Ballads From Nova Scotia, p.101 (Dent, 1932; Dover, 1966). Helen Creighton noted that Frank Faulkner learned this song while sealing in 1902, and also that the name Back Bay may be changed to any hill in the place where the song is sung.
² A variant was published as Sig-i-nal Hill by Omar Blondahl (Newfoundlanders Sing, p.107 (1964).