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Title: Come a Singing!

Date of first publication: 1947

Author: Marius Barbeau (1883-1969) and Arthur Bourinot (1873-1969)

Illustrator: Arthur Lismer (1885-1969)

Date first posted: Nov. 18, 2023

Date last updated: Nov. 18, 2023

Faded Page eBook #20231126

This eBook was produced by: John Routh & the online Distributed Proofreaders Canada team at https://www.pgdpcanada.net

CONTENTS
 
Preface
1.On the banks of the Jeddore
2.Blow the man down!
3.The maid on the shore
4.Remember the Red River
5.The gay raftsmen
6.On Citadel Hill
7.What ails you?
8.I shall never forget
9.Shipwrecked
10.Worse than men
11.You go to old Harry!
12.Alouette!
13.Come a dancing!
14.Old King Cole
15.Never more
16.Till I be full
17.A true lover of mine
18.A frog a wooing
19.Within the well
20.I shall wander
21.Mary Ann
22.Sailor Billy
23.The girl I love
24.My lonely heart
25.A rose in the garden
26.On my way to Rainy River
27.The three white roses
28.On yonder mountains
29.Three lovely ducks
30.’Tis the dawn

 

 

 

 

 

CROWN COPYRIGHT

RESERVED 1973

PREFACE

The songs of this booklet are drawn from the repertory of Canadian folk-songs now preserved at the National Museum or, as indicated at the head of each song, from the published collections of Professor W. Roy Mackenzie, of Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, and of Miss Helen Creighton, former Dean of Women at the University of King’s College, Halifax. Five of the songs have been adapted from Miss Creighton’s Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia (J. M. Dent & Sons, 1932), and four from Dr. Mackenzie’s Ballads and Sea Songs from Nova Scotia (Harvard University Press, 1928).

These songs are for practical use; their words and tunes as far as possible must be rhythmical and appealing. It was not advisable, therefore, to reproduce the sources exactly, as we usually find them in a run down condition because of prolonged oral transmission.

In the task of revamping the texts, I enjoyed the collaboration of Mr. Arthur Bourinot, who adapted several French-Canadian songs from the original, and of Mr. Douglas Leechman.

Grateful acknowledgment is due to the National Museum of Canada, which has facilitated this work, to Mr. Arthur Lismer, who has prepared the illustrations and the cover, to Professor Mackenzie and Miss Creighton for their kind permission to use their songs, and to Mr. Joseph-Ovila Fortin, of the Geological Survey, Canada, who has done the lettering.

MARIUS BARBEAU

2My sailing ship is waiting on the waves.
The signal beckons me away,
And bids me part with you my love.
Farewell, lassie, for I must go . . .
I’m griev’d to leave . . .
  
3The waning sun has set in the west.
The whipporwill sings on the hill.
A bold sea rover must not rest.
Farewell, darling, for I must go . . .
  
4The lonely cries of the gulls aloft
Drift on the wind that fills the sails.
Away I’m sailing on the sea.
Farewell, ye all, for I’m gone . . .
  
5Bright is the light of the summer moon,
It steals through the curtain of night,
As I am dreaming of my home.
Farewell, my land, for I must go . . .
2As I was a walking down Barrington Street,
To me way, hay, blow the man down!
A nice little damsel I chanced to meet.
Oh, Give me . . .
  
3The Old Man’s very much worried for her . . .
Tell him to worry no more, O my sir . . .
  
4We all got full, last night. Aboard we came . . .
I told her, I’d never do that again . . .
  
5This same Old Man, he’s a sad sober chap . . .
Says he, “Come have a drink, stay for a nap . . .”
  
6He drew a bottle to pour us a drink . . .
Wasn’t that kind of him, what do you think? . . .
  
7We’re off to Berlin, The Jerries will get . . .
From him a lesson they’ll never forget . . .
2The young captain had jewels and a purse of gold.
Let the winds blow high or blow low!
And all his gold he would gladly give to this fair maid
If she would take a sail out to sea,
Oh, if she would take a sail out to sea.
  
3So by subtle persuasions he led her aboard.
Let the winds blow high or blow low!
Then haunting tunes she did sing, and she sang them so long
That she soothed the bold sailors to sleep,
Oh yes! she soothed the bold sailors to sleep.
  
4All his jewels she took and his purse full of gold.
Let the winds blow high or blow low!
Bravely she took his broadsword to make herself an oar,
And she paddled away from the ship,
Oh yes! she paddled away from the ship.
  
5“Oh, were my men so mad, Oh, were my men so drunk!
Let the winds blow high or blow low!
Why did they let her go free with her beauty so fair?
On the beach now she sits all alone,
Oh, on the beach now she sits all alone.”
  
6“Your men were not so mad, your men were not so drunk.
Let the winds blow high or blow low!
When you were all fast asleep, I left you on the deck.
I’m a maiden again on the shore,
Oh, I’m a maiden again on the shore.”
2From our plains I knew that you’d be going.
I shall miss your bright eyes, your smile.
Far from me you are taking the sunshine
That has made lovely my path for a while.
 
3Often think of the Red River Valley.
Very sad and lonely I’ll be.
Do remember the heart you are breaking.
Promise you will remain faithful to me.
 
4When you sail far across the wide ocean,
May you treasure those bright hours
That we spent on the bank of the River,
In summer evenings ’mong prairie flowers!
2Across By-Town,      they went, today
To lumber camps,      they’re on their way.
 
3They’ve packed their grub,      they cannot stay,
 
4They climb the Ottawa,      the livelong day,
 
5In bark canoes,      all weathered grey.
 
6The lumber camp      they’ve reached, hurray!
 
7Their axes trim,      there’s no delay.
 
8They’re striking hard;      the tall trees sway.
 
9To give them strength      for work and play,
 
10“Eat pork and beans!”      they always say;
 
11Then sit and smoke      their pipes of clay.
 
12The shanties close;      sing tour-a-lai.
 
13The log drive starts,      the same old way.
 
14Big logs they square      and drag away
 
15To build the rafts,      on them to stay,
 
16And float down stream,      a great array.
 
17The Aylmer portage      tramp so gay.
 
18Their pockets jingle      with their pay.
 
19They’re bound to call      chez Mère Gauthier,
 
20With buxom girls      to frisk and play,
 
21Drink whiskey blanc,      stretch on the hay.
 
22Their money gone,      they swear away,
 
23A doctor call,      ah welladay!
2I says, “My fair creature, please me excuse!”
To accept my arm she did not refuse.
Her arm locked in mine, I sure felt love’s thrill,
As we walked off together on Citadel Hill . . .
 
3The very next day, to the church we did go.
The people all whispered, as well you may know.
The priest said, “Will you wed?” Says I, “That we will!”
So we kissed and were hitched on Citadel Hill . . .
 
4Now we are married, and of children have three.
Me and the Missus can never agree.
She called one Bridget, the other one Bill,
Says I, “The runt’s name shall be Citadel Hill” . . .
 
5Come, all you young fellows, take warning from me!
If ever in need of a wife you may be,
I’ll tell you the place you’ll get more than your fill.
Just try tripping and slipping on Citadel Hill . . .
2Says he, “Myself I’d drown
If but I found a way.”
Says she, “With you I’d drown,
For fear you’d go astray.”
 
3To town straightway she flew
To look and try to find
A drug or other brew
To make her old man blind.
 
4She to the river went,
And tried to push him in.
He stepped aside and sent
The dear old girl right in.
 
5She bawled in deadly fear,
As loud as she could bawl.
Says he, “What’s that, my dear?
I cannot see at all.”
 
6He would not take a chance,
For fear that she could swim.
But took a good long branch
And pushed her farther in.
(Chorus:)
  
’Twas I who built the Rockies up
And placed them where they are,
Sold whiskey to the Indians,
Behind my little bar,
’Twas I that made Niagara Falls,
And first discovered beer.
Oh! that was long before Columbus
Landed over here.
  
2Columbus asked me where to go
To catch the China train,
I saw the poor old boy had got
The itching foot again.
Says I, “Too bad! There is no train
That leaves for there today.
You’ll find a Chinese laundryman
Not half a block away.”
  
(Chorus:)
  
3He saw that some of my Red Men
Had skins that were quite fair,
And thought some other white man must
Have wandered over there.
Says I, “You have to bear in mind
That I’ve been here some time.
They certainly can not be yours,
But they, no doubt, are mine!”
2Upon the sandy land,      I saw a crocodile.
From the nose to the tail,      it was more than thirty-two miles,
 
3This kind of crocodile      was not the usual size.
I climbed up a dead tree      to look into its glaring eyes . . .
 
4I bore away, one day,      with ev’ry stitch of sail,
It took fully three days      to reach from the head to the tail . . .
 
5The wind was blowing hard;      t’was blowing from the south.
It blew me right across      the beast into its gaping mouth . . .
 
6I roamed about the throat      until I found a door.
Inside I saw bullocks      and horses laid up by the score . . .
 
7The monster had long ribs      and sure it had a hide.
It took me thirteen days      to work a hole right through the side . . .
 
8Well now, you gentlemen,      if you go up the Nile,
Somewhere you’ll find the shell      of this wonderful crocodile . . .
2He saddled a pig, an old black cow, . . .
Tore up the ground, the deuce knows how! . . .
 
3The devil he came to him one day,
And said, “One of yours must come away.”
 
4“Oh surely, it’s not my eldest son.
If ’tis, my God, I am undone.”
 
5“Oh no, it’s not your eldest son.
Your scolding wife, she has to come.”
 
6“Take her, yes, take her with all my heart.
I hope you devils ne’er will part.”
 
7He took the woman upon his back.
A pedlar strange, and strange his pack.
 
8And when he came to hell’s back door.
He threw his pack upon the floor.
 
9A devil came and clanked his chain.
She kicked him quick, knocked out his brain.
 
10Up came another, behind the wall,
And cried, “She’s out to kill us all!”
 
11The devil put her upon his back,
And back to earth carried his pack.
 
12Now women are much worse than men;
They go to hell, come back again.
2“I’ve a ring and forty shillings.
Ah! deary O!
You may have them if you’re willing.
Mm, Oh yea!”
“I don’t want your siller money . . .
I want a man who calls me honey . . .”
  
3“Madam, you are young and tender . . .
And your waist is small and slender . . .
“You know too well how to flatter,
I dislike such a silly patter . . .”
  
4“I’ll go home and tell my father
That to marry you won’t bother . . .”
“You and father go to Harry!
Get you another girl to marry! . . .”
2. . . I will pluck them off your beak, (bis)
Off the beak,
Off the head . . .
  
3. . . I will pluck them off your eyes . . .
  
4Etc.: neck, wings, back, feet, tail . . .
  
(In French:
. . . Je t’y plumerai la tête, (bis)
. . . le cou, . . . les ailes, . . . le dos, . . . les pattes,
. . . la queue . . .)
2If you will come      and dance with me, (bis)
A belt of gold      I’ll give to thee. (bis)
 
3A homespun coat      I’ll give to thee . . .
 
4A red kerchief      I’ll give to thee . . .
 
5Two red slippers      I’ll give to thee . . .
 
6A kiss or two      I’ll give to thee . . .
2Old King Cole was a merry old soul,
And a merry old soul was he.
He called for his wife and his fiddlers three,
For ev’ry fiddler kin play well, for a very fine fiddle has he.
Ee-tidle lidle lidle for the fiddle,
Padee padee padum for the wife . . .
Ketee ketee . . . (Etc.)
  
3Old King Cole . . .
He called for his wife and his drummers three,
For ev’ry drummer kin play well, for a very fine drum has he.
Ee-robedee bedum for the drum,
Ee-tidle lidle lidle . . .
  
4He called for his wife and his fifers three,
For ev’ry fifer kin play well, for a very fine fife has he.
Ee-tulelu lelum for the fife . . .
  
5He called for his wife and his harpers three,
For ev’ry harper kin play well, for a very fine harp has he,
Ee-clame clame clame far the harp . . .
  
6He called for his wife and his preachers three,
For ev’ry preacher kin preach well, for a very fine sermon has he.
“God bless your soul!” for the preacher,
Ee-clame clame . . .
  
7He called for his wife and his sailors three,
For ev’ry sailor can curse well, for a very hot temper has he.
“De’il take your soul!” for the sailor,
“God bless your soul!” for the preacher . . .
  
8. . . His farmers three
For ev’ry farmer kin plough well, for a very fine team has he.
“Horse bucke dam!” for the farmer . . .
2Upon the tree there was a branch.
Such a branch never more shall be.
   
The branch was on the tree,
The tree stood in a field,
The tall weeds grew around,
My dear! . . .
   
3Upon the branch there was a limb.
Such a limb never more shall be.
   
The limb was in the branch,
The branch was on the tree,
The tall grass grew around . . .[1]
   
4Upon the limb there was a twig.
Such a twig never more shall be.
   
The twig was on the limb,
The limb was on the branch,
The branch was on the tree . . .[2]
   
5Upon the twig there was a leaf.
Such a leaf never more shall be.
The leaf was on the twig . . .
   
6Set on the leaf there was a nest.
Such a nest never more shall be.
The nest under the leaf . . .
   
7Inside the nest there was an egg.
Such an egg never more shall be.
The egg was in the nest . . .
   
8Inside the egg there was a bird,
Such a bird never more shall be.
The bird was in the egg . . .
   
9Inside the bird there was a song.
Such a song never more shall be.
The song was in the bird . . .
   
10Within the song are words for you.
Such words never more shall be.
The words in the song . . .
   
11The words are, “I love you, my dear!
Such a love never more shall be.
I love you, my dear! . . .

(same tune as The limb)

(same air)

2She went to her cellar, filled up the jug;
Stood on a chair, to find her mug.
She sang: “Mush-a-loo-la-boo!
Who will join me in dancing a jig or two,
Mush-a-doo-dy-ah!” (bis) . . .
  
3“When I am dead and gone, gone to my rest,
Don’t place a stone upon my breast.
I’ll sing: Mush-a-loo-la-boo!
I’ll have a grave that is wide and very deep,
And a jug of punch, (bis)
At my head and my feet!”
2Pray, can you plough it with one ram’s horn, . . .
And sow it all over with one pepper corn? . . .
 
3Pray, can you reap it with a sickle of leather . . .
And tie it all up with one peacock’s feather? . . .
 
4——Now, you have asked me of these questions three . . .
It is my turn to ask three of thee . . .
 
5Pray, can you make me a fine cambric shirt . . .
Without any seam and all needle work? . . .
 
6Pray, in yon brook, can you wash it and wade . . .
Where water n’er flowed since earth it was made?
 
7Pray, can you dry it on yonder sweet thorn . . .
Where blossom n’er bloomed since Adam was born? . . .
2So off he set with beaver hat . . .
Along the way he met Mister Rat . . .
 
3They soon arrived at Mousey Hall . . .
They gave a knock and gave a loud call . . .
 
4“Oh pray, Mrs. Mouse, are you within?” . . .
“Oh yes, kind sirs, I am sitting to spin” . . .
 
5“Oh pray, Mister Frog, give us a song! . . .
And let it be sweet and not very long” . . .
 
6“Excuse me, Pray!” says Mister Frog . . .
“I’ve got a bad cold I caught in a bog” . . .
 
7They were in glee, making a din . . .
A cat and her kittens came tumbling in . . .
 
8The cat, she pulled the rat adown . . .
Her kittens tore and scratched the Mousie’s gown . . .
 
9Now Mister Frog he shivered with fright . . .
Picked up his hat and bid him good-night . . .
 
10As stout Sir Frog, he crossed the brook . . .
A lively duck came and gobbled him up . . .
 
11This is the end of one, two, three . . .
The rat, the mouse and little froggie . . .
2Within the well      there came a fly. (bis)
Ah hum!
She gulped so much,      it made her die.
 
3Within the well      there was a tick, (bis)
She ate so much,      it made her sick.
 
4Within the well      there was a frog.
She brought with her      a jug of grog.
 
5Within the well      there was a snail.
He had the bagpipes      on his tail.
 
6Within the well      there was a bee.
She played the fiddle      on her knee.
 
7Within the well      there was a girl.
Her pretty head      was all acurl.
 
8Within the well      came her sweetheart.
From her white arms      he’d never part.
 
9Within the well      there fell a bull.
It was so big      the well was full.
 
10Within the well      there dropped, alack,
The straw that broke      the camel’s back.
 
11Within the well      there fell a ram.
The occupants      were in a jam.
 
12Within the well      the waters rise,
And all float out      with sputtering sighs.
 
13Within the well      the water fell.
Good-night! There’s      nothing more to tell.
2Hey, hurrah for the grog,
For your jolly good grog,
For the Demerara
And tobacca!
Oh, I have spent all my tin
On a lassie drinking gin,
And across the western ocean
I shall wander.
  
3I have only one shirt.
And the neck of it is gone,
And the back is all torn
Far asunder.
If I don’t get another . . .
  
4I have only one coat,
And the front of it is gone,
And the back is all torn
Far asunder . . .
  
5I’ve but one pair of shoes
And the heels are badly worn,
And the toes are all torn . . .
  
6I’ve but one pair of pants
And the seat is patched and gone,
And the legs they are both torn . . .
2Oh, yonder don’t you see the dove
Sitting on the stile?
She’s mourning the loss of her own true love,
As I do now for you, my sweetheart,
Mary Ann! (bis)
  
3A lobster boiling in the pot,
A blue fish in the brook,
They are suffering long, but it’s nothing like
The ache I bear for you, my sweetheart,
Mary Ann!
  
4Oh, had I but a flask of gin,
Sugar here for two,
And a great big bowl for to mix it in,
I’d pour a drink for you, my sweetheart,
Mary Ann!
2He hailed me, the day before his sailing,
“My love, this night, Oh, meet me!
Such a tale to you I will be telling,
The tale of a man of the sea.”
  
3A ship there is afar on the ocean,
All plated with silver and gold.
Her captain was once my lover, Billy.
His love for me now has grown cold.
  
4If only I had the wings of an eagle,
O’er the waves I would fly to his side.
I’d find my Billy and stoop down a diving.
In his arms I’d forever abide.
2My girl is like a little bird
A little bird,
It flies from tree to tree,
And when it lands on a branch so high,
So near the sky,
And flies far away and is free . . .
   
3I wish I were a bird like her,
A bird like her,
Flying from tree to tree.
I would follow her by day and by night,
By day, by night.
From her I would never flee.
2I called to him, but he did not hear.
Not e’en a look gave he.
Rode he far from his own Ellen dear,
On the road towards the sea.
  
3I passed the gate, and I called and cried,
As he rode to the sea.
And I knew he would not turn again.
He will ne’er come back to me.
  
4Last night, we quarrelled and spoke in haste,
And bitter words had we.
And so I am sad for fear my love
He will not come back to me.
  
5I sit alone and I long for him,
The tender words he said.
I shall mourn him ’til this world shall end,
And my lonely heart is dead.
2I will not sit close to you, my dear,
Now nor at any other time.
You’ve given your love to another one,
And your heart is no longer mine.
Your heart no longer is mine, my dear,
Your heart no longer is mine.
You’ve given your love to another one,
And your heart no longer is mine.
  
3When your heart truly was mine, my dear,
You laid your head upon my breast,
And I listened to the strange oaths you swore
That the sun, it rose in the west,
That the sun, it rose in the west, my dear,
That the sun, it rose in the west,
And I listened to the strange oaths you swore
That the sun, it rose in the west.
  
4There’s a rose in the garden for you, my dear,
A rose in the garden for you.
When fish fly high like the birds in the sky,
Young men will then prove true,
Young men will then prove true, my dear,
Young men will then prove true,
When fish fly high like the birds in the sky,
Young men will then prove true.
2There I have met      three lovely girls together. (bis)
I didn’t chose,      mine was fair Arabella.
 
3There I placed her      behind me on the saddle.
 
4A hundred leagues      I held her fast a riding.
 
5She wouldn’t speak,      nor with me be abiding.
 
6Then she said, “Stop!      Oh, let me go a drinking!”
 
7I brought the belle      to the edge of the river.
 
8All she would do      was turn away and shiver.
 
9Then I took her      to the home of her father.
 
10She drank a lot,      it was not any bother.
 
11Her parent’s health      first she would be a toasting.
 
12Brothers, sisters,      of them she was a boasting,
 
13Of me the lad,      who’d brought her home so safely.
2Down the garden path I went;
To gather roses I was bent,
To gather roses white,
Tra la!
To gather three white roses.
  
3Holding the roses in my hand,
I saw my love before me stand,
My love before me stand,
Tra la!
My love before me standing.
  
4Lovely she was in the morning light!
She asked me for the roses white,
She asked me for a rose,
Tra la!
She asked for my three roses.
  
5I gave three to her with a bow.
She tripped on one I know not how,
She tripped on one somehow,
Tra la!
She tripped on all three roses.
  
6Oh, mercy me! adown she fell.
She broke her leg, her knee as well,
She broke her pretty leg,
Tra la!
Her knee she broke a falling.
  
7Oh, bring to me a doctor, dear!
That I shall swoon I greatly fear,
I fear that I shall swoon,
Tra la!
I fear I may be swooning.
  
8O doctor dear, of you I beg
Whatever’s happened to my leg?
What’s happened to my leg,
Tra la!
Oh, tell me what’s the matter!
  
9The way to mend it I will tell:
Dew drops shall weave a magic spell,
In dew drops bathe it well,
Tra la!
In dew drops go a bathing.
  
10Within a shining golden bowl,
Oh, that alone will make it whole,
With roses white adorn’d,
Tra la!
Three roses white adorning.
2What troubles you, sweetheart?      why weep so long? (bis)
If I weep,      ’tis for my love.
Within your arms      I long to be.
 
3Our love so deep, sweetheart,      let us enjoy!
Oh, make haste,      the years go by!
The days of youth      are all too short.
 
4The sheep in the meadows      fear not the wolf.
Why should you,      O my sweetheart,
Fly from me      at love’s first call?
2Three lovely ducks . . .
The king’s son would a hunting go.
 
3He sees the ducks swim to and fro.
 
4He takes his gun all silver bright.
 
5He shoots the black and kills the white.
 
6How cruel you are, alas, king’s son.
 
7To kill my duck, the brightest one!
 
8Two diamonds from his eyelids spill,
 
9With gold and silver from his bill.
 
10The feathers on the wind are borne,
 
11Three girls are gath’ring them forlorn,
 
12To make with them soft feather beds,
 
13Where they may rest their lovely heads.
2Green are all its branches,
O my heart, be still, be still!
Green are all its branches,
And the ripe fruit is sweet, (bis)
So sweet,
And the ripe fruit is sweet. (bis)
3Beneath, are three princesses,      are lying fast asleep . . .
Asleep . . .
 
4The eldest awakens,      “My sister, tis the dawn.”
 
5The youngest arises,      “ ’Tis nothing but moonlight.
 
6Shining on my lover,      and it is shining bright.
 
7To the war he’s going,      where for me he will fight.
 
8If he is victorious,      my love to him I’ll plight.
 
9If he is defeated,      he’s still my gallant knight,
My knight . . .”

TRANSCRIBER NOTES

Mis-spelled words and printer errors have been corrected. Where multiple spellings occur, majority use has been employed.

Punctuation has been maintained except where obvious printer errors occur.

The txt version has been omitted from this eBook project.

[The end of Come a Singing! by Marius Barbeau and Arthur Bourinot]