Print This Page#02440 Print This Page
Once upon a time in Labrador, I was fishin' and I went ashore,
To a half door that was open wide, a welcome to come in there;
"Can I rest me kindly here?" I said, when this native girl popped out her head,
"God rest you kindly, sir," she said, "Come in and close the half door."
She removed the upper half of the door, she set it down upon the floor,
And I wondered what she did it for, I could not understand her;
She then proceeded to dance a reel, upon the door the click of her heel,
Resounded clear from stern to keel, she pleased a Newfoundlander.
So I asked the maid, "Would you marry me?" "I'd gladly, sir, but can't you see?
I'm much too young for the likes of thee. Come back when I am older."
But when I was taking the leave of me gear, she whispered softly in me ear,
"I pray you'll come again in a year," and this is what I told her:
"'Tis then I'll be sailing from Newfoundland, a-fishing your coast and I will land,
To a half door standin' open wide, a welcome to come in there.
Farewell, me darling now," I said, when this native girl withdrew her head.
"God guide you back to Labrador, I'll wait within the half door.
God guide you back to Labrador, I'll wait within the half door."
~ Musical interlude at a faster pace ~
On a schooner I was fishin' off the Banks of Labrador,
With the north wind blowin' we took shelter on the shore;
I came upon a cabin hangin' two halves of a door,
And a welcome to come in there.
"Can I rest me kindly from the storm," I said,
When this raven-haired beauty sort of popped out her head.
"Come in and rest ya down kindly, sir, and share a bit of bread.
Come in and close the half door."
She wriggled off the top of her half of the door,
And set it down lightly on the cabin's wooden floor,
I watched and wondered but why she did it for,
I could not understand her;
She then proceeded to dance a little reel,
And upon the piece of half door the clicking of her heel,
Resounded through the cabin when she cooked a hearty meal,
She pleased a Newfoundlander.
So I asked the maid, "Would you think to marry me?"
"I would, kind sir, but you can plainly see,
I'm much too young to marry at the age of ten and three.
Come back when I am older."
With the storm now over I took leaving with me gear,
When I took a little kiss she whispered in my ear:
"I pray you'll come and sail about the harbour in a year."
And this is what I told her:
"I will sail into your harbour from the isle of Newfoundland,
A-fishing on the Labrador, and I will surely land;
Come upon a cabin hangin' two halves of a door,
And a welcome to come in there.
"Farewell, me darling," from the half door said,
When this Labrador lass withdrew her raven head;
"God guide you through the Labrador Sea," she said,
"I'll wait within the half door.
God guide you through the Labrador Sea," she said,
"I'll wait within the half door."
