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In Berrigan's car last Sunday morn a bunch of us went down,
We had a few Jamaicas in before we hit the town;
We sang a few ditties on the road, we all felt in good cheer,
In Berrigan's automobile down to Windsor Lake did steer.
Shake hands with Mr. Peters, he is the man I say,
Shake hands with Mr. Mifflin from Bonavista Bay;
Shake hands with Jakey Barrey, he's a member of the staff,
You're as welcome as the flowers in May with your dollar and a half.
We faith, says I to my friend Bill, as I heaved a heavy sigh,
We've not enough of water left to bathe a festered eye;
Be gob, says he as he answered me, this stuff we can't abuse,
The Controllers will have to close for sure, no water for the booze.
Shake hands with Mr. Peters, he is the man I say,
Shake hands with Mr. Mifflin from Bonavista Bay;
Shake hands with Jakey Barrey, he's a member of the staff,
You're as welcome as the flowers in May with your dollar and a half.
From Windsor Lake our water we take, but now it's goin' down,
Right now there is a shortage and they can't supply the town;
For washin' cars and rinsin' jars, the taps are all turned on,
We now must turn on Windsor Lake, no water in the pond.
Shake hands with Mr. Peters, he is the man I say,
Shake hands with Mr. Mifflin from Bonavista Bay;
Shake hands with Jakey Barrey, he's a member of the staff,
You're as welcome as the flowers in May with your dollar and a half.
Published in Burke's Ballads, p.50, c.1960, compiled by John White and archived at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Libraries, Centre For Newfoundland Studies - Digitized Books collection.
See more songs by Johnny Burke.
Windsor Lake is located approximately 21 kilometres (13 miles) northwest of downtown St. John's and provides approximately 30% of St. John's residents with fresh drinking water.
