The Green Shores Of Fogo

Our barque leaves this harbour tomorrow,
Across the wide ocean to go;
And Katie, a burden of sorrow,
It is more than I wish you to know.

Fare you well to the green shores of Fogo,
Fare you well, Katie dear, true and kind;
For where'er I may be, I'll be true to thee,
Since old Fogo I'm leaving behind.

Now Katie, give over your sighing,
And don't be down-hearted for me;
It's my fortune I'm after seeking,
In a far distant land o'er the sea.

There's a dark cloud of sorrow hanging o'er me,
There's a precious great weight on my mind;
For I know there's one loving me truly,
In old Fogo I'm leaving behind.

####.... Author unknown. Original Newfoundland song, derivative of a late 19th century British broadside ballad, The Country I'm Leaving Behind, published by the Poet's Box (Dundee) sometime between 1880 and 1900, and archived at The Word On The Street - Broadsides of the National Library Of Scotland, shelfmark: L.C.Fol.70(22b) ....####

Collected in 1952 from Mrs. John Fogarty of Joe Batt's Arm, NL, by Ken Peacock, and published in Songs Of The Newfoundland Outports, Volume 2, p.522, by The National Museum of Canada (1965) Crown Copyrights Reserved. A very similar variant was recorded on the album Songs And Ballads Of Newfoundland (Folkways FG 3505, LP (1956) cut#B.03.) Sung to the tune of The Blooming Bright Star Of Belle Isle.

Kenneth Peacock noted that this native love lyric is patterned on a much older Irish song entitled The Country I'm Leaving Behind. Mrs. Fogarty lived in Fogo when she was young and remembered the sailor who composed this lovely lyric for his girl-friend. As a matter of fact, Peacock continued, I strongly suspect that she herself was the Katie in the song, though she did not say so directly (her husband was present).

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