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Harbour Grace (Dick Nolan) with lyrics and video

        #1261: YouTube video by oldirishladdie ©2010
                  ~ Used with permission ~

Well, Georgie he could build a boat,
And he's the b'y could drive her;
And he's the b'y could catch the fish,
And take them home to Lizer.

I love to sit by the big hot stove,
And watch the kittle b'ilin';
Daddy will buy the baby a frock,
When the b'ys come home from swilin'.

Oh, Harbour Grace is a very nice place,
And so is the Bay of Islands;
So give three cheers for Carbonear,
When the b'ys come home from swilin'.

Oh, Uncle George he went to town,
To buy I some cotton;
If he don't bring home the flowery stuff,
Well, he needn't bring I nottin'.

Now we're bound for Carbonear, me b'ys,
With our bright colors flyin';
The girls will wear new sealskin pants,
When the b'ys come home from swilin'.

Oh, Harbour Grace is a very nice place,
And so is the Bay of Islands;
So give three cheers for Carbonear,
When the b'ys come home from swilin'.

Now, Billy was our captain bold,
And Georgie our commander;
But a great big sea washed over he,
And drowned the Newfoundlander.

We'll all go down to Mackety Bay,
And we'll stay for the winter;
We'll all sit down to a very good feed,
With mussels in the corner.

Oh, Harbour Grace is a very nice place,
And so is the Bay of Islands;
So give three cheers for Carbonear,
When the b'ys come home from swilin'.

####.... Author unknown. Original Newfoundland song ....####
Originally collected in 1950 from John Obe Smith of Glen Haven, Nova Scotia, by Edith Fulton Fowke (Literary Edtor) and Richard Johnston (Music Editor), and published in Folk Songs Of Canada (Waterloo Music Company, Waterloo, Ontario, 1954).

This variant recorded by Dick Nolan (Lukey's Boat, trk#10, 1968, Arc Sound Ltd., Toronto, Ontario, recorded with direction by Ben Weatherby by Bay Studios, Toronto, Ontario).

A variant was also recorded by The Immigrants of Hamilton, Ontario (In Between Before And After, Trip The Light Productions, Toronto, Ontario, 1995).

Harbour Grace is west of St. John's, on the western side of Conception Bay.

From the Dictionary Of Newfoundland English:
Swiling - sealing.






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