Ten Little Turrs

Ten little turrs in the freezer is better than a hundred in the bay,
That's all I got last winter 'cause the rest of the turrs flew away;
With all the money that I spent, it keep me mad all day,
But ten little turrs in the freezer is better than a hundred in the bay.

I bought me a boat up in Toronto with a great big eighty merc,
I put in the water down in Hatchet Cove - damn old motor won't work;
Had to take it to Gander where it taken most of me pay,
But ten little turrs in the freezer is better than a hundred in the bay.

My brother got a little, small mercury with a boat about 10-12 feet long,
Go out and look down in his deep freeze, and you'll see more turrs than you can eat;
So when I get that big old motor back again, I'm goin throw the damn lot away,
'Cause ten little turrs in the freezer is better than a hundred in the bay.

If I live until next winter, and the turrs come back again,
Going buy me a little small mercury, a seven half or ten;
Going buy me a little, small speed boat, goin' painted it red and gray,
Then I'll have more turrs in the freezer than I need find in the bay.

Now me and Sam is buddies, as any one here can see,
It breaks his heart to go out, in Trinity Bay without me;
Eight o'clock in the morning, if you're there, for sure,
You guaranteed to see old Sam heading out for more.

Trinity Bight is his first stop 'cause the birds hang out there, too,
Don't you try to slow him down, he's not fooling 'round with you;
He ain't got no time to talk, he haven't got all day,
He's zipping up his rubber coat and heading down the bay.

Now, people think that I'm a good shot 'cause I bring in a lot of turrs,
But I always go out with those men and there's things you ain't heard;
He always kills the birds for me when I'm shaking in the wind,
And telling God if I get back I'll never go out again.

Now, I'm finished fooling around, I'm serious you can see,
Sam C., down in Hearts Ease, he means hell'a lot to me;
My song is almost over now but these few words I say,
Take off your hat to good old Sam, he's the king in Trinity Bay.
Take off your hat to good old Sam, he's the king in Trinity Bay.

####.... Harve Bishop (b.1949) of English Harbour West, NL (Newfoundland Country video, 1994) ....####

See more Harve Bishop songs.

From the Dictionary Of Newfoundland English:
Turr - one of several sea-birds hunted as food; Atlantic common murre; baccalieu bird (Uria aalge aalge).