1. |
Canadee-i-o
05:34
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Well, it's all of a fair and a handsome girl
She's all in her tender years
She fell in love with a sailor boy
It's true she loved him well
For to go off to sea with him
Like she did not now how
She longed to see that seaport town
Of Canadee-i-o.
So he bargained with the sailor boy
All for a piece of gold
Straightaway then he led her
Down into the hold
Sayin', "I'll dress you up in sailor's clothes
Your jacket shall be blue
You'll see that seaport town
Of Canadee-i-o".
Now, when the other sailors heard the news
Well, they fell into a rage
And with all the ship's company
They were willing to engage
Sayin', "We'll tie her hands and feet, my boys
Overboard we'll throw her
She'll never see that seaport town
Called Canadee-i-o".
Now, when the captain he heard the news
Well, he too fell in rage
And with the whole ships' company
He was willing to engage
Sayin', "She'll stay all in sailor's clothes
Her colour shall be blue
She'll see that seaport town
Called Canadee-i-o".
Now, when they come down to Canada
Scarcely 'bout half a year
She's married this bold captain
Who called her his dear
She's dressed in silks and satins now
She cuts a gallant show
Finest of the ladies
Down Canadee-i-o.
Come all you fair and tender girls
Wheresoever you may bee
I'd have you to follow your own true love
Whene'er he goes out to sea
For the sailors prove false to you
Well, the captain he might prove true
You'll see the honour I have gained
By the wearing of the blue
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2. |
Flandyke Shore
04:07
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I went unto my own love's chamber window,
Where I had often been before,
To tell my love unto Flandyke shore,
Unto Flandyke shore,
Never to return to England no more,
Never to return to England no more.
I went unto my own love's chamber door,
Where I had never been before.
I saw a light springing from her clothes,
Springing from her clothes,
Just like the morning sun when first arose,
Just like the morning sun when first arose.
As I was walking on the Flandyke shore
Her own dear father I did see.
"My daughter she is dead," he cried.
"She is dead," he cried.
"And she's broken her heart all for the love of thee."
So I hove a bullet onto fair England's shore,
Onto fair England's shore,
Just where I thought my own true love did lay
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3. |
Farewell to the gold
04:48
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Shotover river, your gold it is waning
It's weeks since the colour I've seen
But it's no use just sitting and Lady Luck blaming
So I'll pack up and make the break clean
Farewell to the gold that never I found
Goodbye to the nuggets that somewhere abound
For it's only when dreaming that I see you gleaming
Down in the dark, deep underground
It's nearly two years since I left my old mother
For adventure and gold by the pound
With Jimmy the prospector - he was another
For the hills of Otago was bound
We worked the Cardrona's dry valley all over
Old Jimmy Williams and me
But they were panning good dirt on the winding Shotover
So we headed down there just to see
We sluiced and we cradled for day after day
Making hardly enough to get by
Til a terrible flood swept poor Jimmy away
During six stormy days in July
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4. |
Little Pot Stove
05:00
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Where the winter blizzards blow and the whaling fleet's at rest,
Tacked in Leith Harbour's sheltered bay safely anchored ten abreast.
For there's the whalemen at their stations as from ship to ship they rove,
Carry bags of coal with them and a little iron stove.
Chorus
In the little dark engine room where the chill seep in your soul,
How we huddled round that little pot stove that burned oily rags and coal.
The fireman Paddy works with me on the engine frozen cold,
A stranger to the truth was he, there's not a lie he hasn't told.
Well, he boasted of his gold mines and of the hearts that he had won
And his bawdy sense of humour shone just like a ray of sun.
We live it seven days a week, cold hands and frozen feet,
Bitter days and lonely nights, making grog and having fights.
There's swordfish and whale-meat sausage and fresh penguin egg's a treat;
Then we struggle on to work each day through the icy winds and sleet.
Then one day we saw the sun, we saw the factory ship return,
Meet your old friends and you sing a song; we hope the journey wasn't long.
And then it's homeward bound and it's over and we'll leave this icy hole;
But I always will remember that little iron stove.
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5. |
Isle of France
05:09
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Oh the sky was dark and the night advanced
When a convict came to the Isle of France
And round his leg was a ringing chain
And his country was of the Shamrock Green
I'm from the Shamrock this convict cried
That has been tossed on the ocean wide
For being unruly I do declare
I was doomed to transport these seven long years
When six of them they were up and past
I was coming home to make up the last
When the winds did blow and the seas did roar
They cast me here on this foreign shore
So then the coastguard he played a part
And with some brandy, he cheered the convict's heart
Although the night is far advanced
You shall find a friend on the Isle of France
So he sent a letter all to the queen
Concerning the wreck of the Shamrock Green
And his freedom came by a speedy post
For the absent convict they thought was lost
God bless the coastguard this convict cried
For he's saved my life from the ocean wide
And I'll drink his health in a flowing glass
And here's success to the Isle Of France
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6. |
Master Kilby
03:44
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In the heat of the day
When the sun shines so freely
There I met Master Kilby
So fine and so gay
I pulled off my hat
And I bowed to the ground
And I said 'Master Kilby
Oh, where are you bound?'
'I'm bound for the west
In hope to find rest
In the arms of my dear Nancy
I'll build a new nest
And if I was the master
Of ten thousand pounds
In bright gold and silver
Or in King William's crown
I would part with it all
With my own heart so freely
It's all for the sake
Of my charming Nancy
She's the fairest of girls
She's the choice of my heart
And her skin shines like silver
In every part
Oh, I gave her some kisses
It was down on the sea shore
But still she lay asking
Lay asking for more'
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7. |
Better Days
04:36
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The world is asleep
Lost and bowed down
And a shadow is cast on our land
We wait for the time when our fortune will change
And the seasons will turn once again
And the old man of March will bring in the spring
And banish the mist and the rain
Each year he do come to make our heart sing
And soon he will be here again
There’ll be gold for the whin
No more snow for the thorn
The woodpecker laughing again
The brown linnets will sing
With the larks in the morn
And the ice has gone out of the rain
And the old man of March will bring in the spring
And banish the mist and the rain
Each year he do come to make our heart sing
And soon he will be here again
There’s a whisper of green
Through the russet and sere
And bud break has struck on the bough
In dingle and den
The daffodils near
The primroses opening now
And the old man of March will bring in the spring
And banish the mist and the rain
Each year he do come to make our heart sing
And soon he will be here again
The lamb’s on his legs
Meadow daisies among
And plays with his small shaky kin
There be warmth in the sun
And with our hearts delight
We watch the new season begin
And the old man of March will bring in the spring
And banish the mist and the rain
Each year he will come to make our heart sing
And soon he will be here again
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8. |
The Wassailing
05:14
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Old Christmas eve’s the proper night for wassailing the apple trees
And though the snow came to their knees our forefathers done what was right
Poured out their cider, sang their song, and fired the gun the boughs among
The girls their cider pitchers bring with liquor steaming on the air
And toast and spices floating there, where come a score of boys to sing
And at the gate awaiting they, Jan Bassett and his blunderbuss.
With Ned and Fred and Jeremy, and Jonah Moss and Billy Blee
And Merryweather Chugg so grand, and father holding of my hand.
Bang! Bang! and Bang! The guns do ring and flash a light upon the throng
Who laugh aloud and tramp along all busy at the wassailing
But here the shadow lovers go where hangs a tod o’ mistletoe
The trees fling down upon the snow their crooked shadows where we walk
To hear the ancient gaffers talk of wassailings long long ago
Then pour their cider at the roots to help another summer’s fruits
With Nick and Dick and Amos Thorn, Old Westaway and Michael Horn
And they two boys of Walter Bleet - no angels ever sang so sweet
The moony branches bright and clear are full of funny goblin eyes
All staring down in great surprise to see their neighbours in such cheer
There’s whispering from tree to tree above the jolly company
And when old Christmas eve do bring together moon and snow once more
Now from their beds I swear to thee I hear the sleeping people sing,
I see them thick as honey bees, their ghosties through the apple trees
Of Sib and Tib and Toby Trout, with crookback Jim and Sandy Prout
And many another blade so gay in oak or elm long laid away
Good lord it don’t seem far ago - but I was then a little lad
And snuggling close beside my dad, bustin’ with joy to see the show
Tis sixty year and more I doubt they bygones held the merry rout
With Ned and Fred and Jeremy, and Jonah Moss and Billy Blee
With Granfer Budd back ‘ome four score, and Sammy Meek, back ‘ome from war.
With Nick and Dick and Amos Thorn, Old Westaway and Michael Horn
With Merryweather Chugg so grand, and father holding of my hand.
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9. |
The Old Road
04:00
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How short the road with you my friend,
How short the road with you
The tors and vales, the heights and dales
And each unfolding view
For side by side and foot by foot
Though long that summer noon
The twilight fell too soon my friend
The twilight fell too soon
Oh the twilight fell too soon
How far the road alone my friend
How far the road alone
The tors how steep the dales how deep
Their ancient magic flown
For now the way together trod
You cannot tread again
In sunshine or in rain my friend
In sunshine or in rain
Nor In sunshine or in rain
Still winds the patient road my friend
Still winds the patient road
Whereon I go, now high, now low
With my appointed load
And glories shared I felt were gone
For ever when you passed
Have brought you back at last my friend
Have brought you back at last
They have brought you back at last.
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10. |
Widdecombe Fair
05:21
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Tom Pearce, Tom Pearce, lend me your grey mare
All along, down along, out along lee.
For I want to go down to Widecombe Fair
Wi’ Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
Peter Davy, Dan’l Whiddon, Harry Hawk,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all
And when shall I see again my old grey mare?
All along, down along, out along lee.
By Friday soon or Saturday noon
Wi’ Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
Peter Davy, Dan’l Whiddon, Harry Hawk,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all
So they harnessed and bridled the old grey mare
All along, down along, out along, lee.
And off they drove to Widecombe fair,
Wi’ Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawk,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.
Then Friday came and Saturday soon
All along, down along, out along lee.
Tom Pearce’s old mare hath not trotted home
Wi’ Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
Peter Davy, Dan’l Whiddon, Harry Hawk,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all
So Tom Pearce he got up to the top of the hill,
All along, down along, out along lee.
And he sees his old mare a-making her will,
Wi’ Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
Peter Davy, Dan’l Whiddon, Harry Hawk,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all
Tom Pearce’s old mare, her took sick and died
All along, down along, out along lee.
And Tom he sat down on a stone and he cried
Wi’ Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
Peter Davy, Dan’l Whiddon, Harry Hawk,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all
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11. |
The Slate Men
06:49
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From Tintagel Castle to Trebarwith Strand
The best of the weather we found
As we followed the slate miners’ track round the cliffs
With the signs of the past all around
Fulmar and kittiwake wheeled all around
Riding the south western breeze
In line on the cliff edge the stout posts they stood
Driven down hard in the ground
From Lambshouse to to Long Grass to Dunderhole Point to Gull Point to Penhallic Quay
With a rope round a post men went over the cliff
To caves there to work the slate free, high over the thundering sea
In every season in sunshine and snow
On days when Atlantic gales came
Over each day without fail they would go
Soaked by the spume and the spray
A candle for light and a fuggan for bait
A pick and a shovel to work
Cables and cradles to lower the slate
To the ships as they wait far below
From Lambshouse to to Long Grass to Dunderhole Point to Gull Point to Penhallic Quay
With a rope round a post men jumped over the cliff
To caves there to work the slate free, high over the thundering sea
As we turned for home then the weather had turned
The wind whipped the hard stinging rain
With the roar of the surf and the boom of the waves
As they broke on the rocks far below
As we trod on home on the ancient pathways
Lined with them curzyway walls
We followed the tracks of the bravest of men
Who travelled these pathways before
From Lambshouse to to Long Grass to Dunderhole Point to Gull Point to Penhallic Quay
With a rope round a post men jumped over the cliff
To caves there to work the slate free, high over the thundering sea
If you stand on the edge of the Dunderhole Cliff
There’s a square hole you see down below
50 yards deep and 50 yards wide
A place where no miners now go
But on calm nights you still hear the strike of the picks
And still see a dim candle’s glow
Hear the cries of the men as they lower the slate
Down to the ships down below
From Lambshouse to to Long Grass to Dunderhole Point to Gull Point to Penhallic Quay
With a rope round a post men jumped over the cliff
To caves there to work the slate free, high over the thundering sea
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12. |
Poison Train
05:40
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1. This old town has had its day, all the people moved away
And the houses standing empty in the dry and dusty day
No-one cares for this old town now the money’s not around
And the railway lines are rusty and the station’s falling down
There’s a light down the line let it shine shine shine
There’s a camp down the way, all the fettlers will be coming home today
2. When the railway opened here all the gutters filled with beer
And the people stood beside the line to watch and wave and cheer
Oh the speeches that were made when the bosses smiled and said
The good times are just starting, follow us and you’ll go ahead
3. Well they built the streets so wide it’d be a thing of pride
To walk across it drunk or throw a stone to the other side
And the buildings grew so tall you would tremble at their fall
Now they all fall down and you’d never know there was anyone there at all
4. I still hear the tall man say to the children at their play
Now you’d better go home early and you’d better stay away
Stay away from the line can’t you hear the railway humming
The grass has grown too tall and poison train is coming
5. You feel sorry for the grass all it did was grow too fast
And with weapons ranged against it it was never meant to last
And the man and his offsider they are all dressed in black
The poison train goes through the town and blisters all the track
6. Well it never lasted long; half the town was dead and gone
And everybody was afraid to be there left alone
All the people stayed away and there was no celebration
Nobody made a speech the day they closed the railway station.
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13. |
The Briar and the Rose
03:31
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I fell asleep down by the stream
And there I had the strangest dream
And down by Brennan's Glenn there grows
A briar and a rose
There's a tree in the forest and I don't know where
I built a nest out of your hair
And climbing up into the air
A briar and a rose
Well I don't know how long it's been
But I was born in Brennan's Glenn
And near the end of spring there grows
The briar and the rose
I picked the rose one early morn
I pricked my finger on a thorn
It had grown so close, it's winding wove
The briar around the rose
I tried to tear them both apart
I felt a bullet through my heart
And all dressed up in springs and clothes
The briar and the rose
And when I'm buried in my grave
Tell me so I may know
Your tears may fall to make love grow
The Briar and the rose
And when I'm buried and in my grave
Tell me so I may know
Your tears may fall to make love grow
The Briar and the rose
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14. |
Copperline revisited
04:03
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Even the old folks never knew why they call it like they do
I was wondering since the age of two down on copperline
Copper head, copper beech copper kettles sitting side by each
Copper coil, cuppa georgia peach down on copperline
Half a mile down to morgan creek leaning heavy on the end of the week
Hercules and a hog-nosed snake down on copperline
We were down on copperline
One summer night on the copperline slip away past supper time
Wood smoke and moonshine down on copperline
One time I saw my daddy dance watched him moving like a man in a trance
He brought it back from the war in france down onto copperline
Branch water and tomato wine creosote and turpentine
Sour mash and new moon shined down on copperline
Down on copperline
First kiss ever I took like a page from a romance book
The sky opened and the earth shook down on copperline
Down on copperline
Took a fall from a windy height
I only knew how to hold on tight and pray for love enough to last all night
Down on copperline day breaks and the boys wakes up
And the dog barks and the birds sings and the sap rises and the angels sigh, yeah
I tried to go back, as if I could all spec house and plywood
Tore up and tore up good down on copperline
It doesnt come as a surprise to me it doesnt touch my memory
Man Im lifting up and rising free down on over copperline
Half a mile down to morgan creek I’m only living for the end of the week
Hercules and a hog-nosed snake down on copperline, yeah
Take me down on copperline
Oh, down on copperline
Take me down on copperline
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15. |
Carrying Nelson Home
06:13
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Ease the bow spring, gently set the foresheets on the windward side,
Let go fore and aft then as she turns, sail her full and by to catch the evening tide.
Shake out those topsails, feel the seas roll under that she know so well,
Find a star to guide her to the dawn, and then let her greet the long Atlantic swell.
Sing me a chanty
Cantad del Cabo San Vicente*
Chantez des Marin de Nile
Sing a hymn of Trafalgar.
Stream the log now, for she's heeling with a land-breeze to inspire,
Orange-scented from the groves of Andalucia, and within my mind Cadiz still gleams with fire.
Give her sea-room, put Saint Vincent well astern by break of day,
Then you shorten sail and harden up the sheets, and close-hauled we'll make the Northings slip away.
One point to loo'ard, for the rolling seas are getting shorter now.
They remind me of the lights of (far Hiera)**, and they tell me Biscay's on the starboard bow.
Shake out your reef, for carried on the breeze that's setting fair
Are spices from the quays of Lorient you can sail her free to weather Finisterre.
Ease your mainsheets, for it's soon we'll see the harbour lights of home,
Anchor, make good every sheet and halyard, remembering just who you have on board.
Pipe me ashore, gently hoist aloft your keg of brandy wine
Make ready to receive the admiral's pouch, lower me easy, I'm going ashore one last time.
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Alan Courtney England, UK
I've decided to collect here all my solo recordings from 2002 onwards, when I left my job and started to work for
myself.
I was born and raised in Devon, but have lived the last 40 years in Malvern. I've played folk music in clubs, sessions, festivals etc since the age of 15.
I played in rock n blues, then folk bands Malthouse Passage and Set em up Joe. I've recorded many albums showcased here
... more
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