Author | Topic: Add: Canadee-i-o | |
Ed | Posted - 24 Nov 02 - 04:29 pm | |
Canadee-i-o It was of a fair and pretty maid She was in her tender care She dearly lov'd a sailor It was true she lov'd him well And how to get to sea with him She did not like why know But she long'd to see that seaport town Call'd Canadee-i-o She bargain'd with a young sailor All for a piece of gold And straightway he led her All down into the hold Saying, 'I will dress you up in sailor's clothes Your collar shall be blue And you shall see that seaport town Call'd Canadee-i-o Now when the sailors heard of it They fell into a row And all the whole ship's company Were willing to engage 'We'll tie her hands and feet, my boys, And overboard we'll throw She never will see that seaport town Call'd Canadee-i-o Now when the captain heard of this He too fell into a rage Say, 'If you drown that fair maid All hanged you will be I will dress her up in sailor's clothes Her collar will be blue And she will see that seaport town Call'd Canadee-i-o She had not been in Canada Scarcely above half a year She married this bold captian Who call'd her his dear She's dress'd in silks and satins now She cuts a galliant show She's the finest captain's lady In Canadee-i-o Now come all you fair and pretty maids Wherever you may be I will have you follow your true love When he goes out to sea If the sailors they prove false to you The captain he'll prove true You can see the honour that I have gain'd By wearing of the blue Source: Stubbs, K (1970) The Life of a Man London, E.F.D.S. Publications Notes: Collected from Harry Upton in 1963. 'Born 1900. He is a cowman who lives in Balcombe, Sussex' Database entry is here | ||
Ed | Posted - 24 Nov 02 - 04:36 pm | |
Made famous by Nic Jones who sang a similar set of words to a different tune. Does anyone know whether Nic's tune is traditional or one of his own? Ed | ||
dmcg | Posted - 24 Nov 02 - 05:08 pm | |
Quote from a web site"If you look at the sleeve notes for Ballads and Songs you will note that Nic Jones is meticulous in giving credit to the sources he collected his songs from. It is somewhat ironic that his arrangement of Canadee-i-o was 'borrowed' without credit by Bob Dylan." Bob Dylans version can be heard here | ||
Ed | Posted - 24 Nov 02 - 05:31 pm | |
Whilst I wouldn't defend Dylan's 'borrowing' I don't think that Nic Jones can be called meticulous in terms of his source identification. The entirety of his notes for 'Penguin Eggs' (from which Canadee-i-o comes), are: All the songs on this record have been learned from books, tapes, records and scraps of paper, all sent to me by friends that I have made around the folk club scene. I hope that the songs haven't been damaged too much in transit. | ||
Malcolm Douglas |
Posted - 24 Nov 02 - 05:38 pm | |
Roud 309. Broadside examples can be seen at Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads under a variety of titles: A new song called Canada heigho Canada I O Kennady I-o Lady's trip to Kennedy The lady's trip to Kennady The ladies trip to Canada! The gallant lady Nobody seems quite sure where Nic Jones got the tune that he used; I've heard that he doesn't remember. I rather think that it's just a free adaptation of a traditional example (possibly even this one), though that can only be a guess. | ||
Watson | Posted - 24 Nov 02 - 08:15 pm | |
Another variety of title - I forget where it was, but I heard it announced as "Canadee one nil". | ||
Malcolm Douglas |
Posted - 24 Nov 02 - 11:52 pm | |
Nice one! |