Lazy Tom
G. Simmons

CHORUS:
Wake up Lazy Tom get your feet outta bed
It's been four days since the cow's been fed
No surprise that the rooster is dead...

Tom was a fisherman's son
Son of a hard workin' man
His father lived on the sea
Young Tom preferred dry land
Tom, how his mother would shout
"What a no good boy is he"
His mother would weep, but Tom was asleep
Underneath a juniper tree

CHORUS

Mary Ann was the pride of Conception Bay
Daughter of old Dan Moore
Tom went acourtin' Mary Ann
When Dan was on the Labrador
Her father came home that year
The girl was in the family way
Tom and Mary got married in the church down the road
Tom cried and cried all day

CHORUS

"I can change that man" said Mary Ann
"We'll make this house a home
He'll do what I tell him to
And never need to roam"
And though her intent was good
Tom drank 'til he nearly drowned
Tom went to bed when the sun came up
Got up when the sun went down

CHORUS

One drunken night Tom made for the bed
But ended up on the floor
Reached out for his wife but he banged her on the head
She let out a blood-curdling roar
Tom came to and opened up his eyes
In that twisted whiskey morn
There lyin' in the bed where his wife should be
Was the devil with a broken horn

CHORUS
You're a no-good-man to your family


The Old Woman From Wexford
Traditional

Ah there was an old woman from Wexford
In Wexford town did dwell
She loved her husband dearly
And another one twice as well

CHANT:
With me right foll diddy foll dearo
And me right foll tour a lee

One day she went to the doctor
Some medicine for to find
She said "Doctor give me something
for to make the old man blind"

CHANT

"Feed him eggs and marrow bone
And make him suck them all
It won't be very long after
Sure he won't see you at all"

CHANT

She fed him eggs and marrow bone
And made him suck them all
It wasn't very long after
Sure he couldn't see the wall

CHANT

Says he "I think I'll drown myself
But that might be a sin"
Says she "I'll go to the water
Just to see you don't fall in"

CHANT

The old woman she stepped back for
To have a run and go
The old man gently stepped aside
And she went down below

CHANT

She swam and swam and swam until
She could no further swim
The old man grabbed a long black pole
And pushed her further in

CHANT

Now eatin' eggs and marrow bone
Won't make the old man blind
But if you want to drown him
You must creep up close behind

CHANT


Fish Out of Water
G. Simmons

He took all he got from God and a grade eight education
Never had any other job, spent his life out on the sea
He had taken so much cod from the time he was a young boy
And for 37 years he got up at half past three
Out before dawn in a small boat built for haulin'
Cod traps and some jiggin' could have gone on endlessly

CHORUS
Now he feels just like a fish out of water
It's land air he breathes
Yes he feels just a fish out of water.

Will he ever sail again out to the fishin' water
Cause they told us one and all "burn your boats and leave the sea"
Even though they didn't know fishin' boats could get so efficient
And just how efficiently they could pick the ocean clean
Out before dawn in a small boat built for haulin'
Cod traps and some jiggin' could have gone on endlessly

CHORUS

He took all he got from God and a grade eight education


Sam Hall
Traditional

Oh me name it is Sam Hall, chimney sweep, chimney sweep
Oh me name it is Sam Hall, chimney sweep
Oh me name it is Sam Hall, and I've robbed both great and small
And me neck will pay for all when I die, when I die
And me neck will pay for all when I die

I have 20 pounds in store, that's not all, that's not all
I have 20 pounds in store, that's not all
I have 20 pounds in store, and I'll rob for 20 more
For the rich must help the poor, so must I, I so must I
For the rich must help the poor, so must I

Oh they brought me to Coote Hill in a cart, in a cart
Oh they brought me to Coote Hill in a cart
Oh they brought me to Coote Hill, there I stopped to make my will
For the best of friends must part, so must I, so must I
For the best of friends must part, so must I

Up the ladder I did grope, that's no joke, that's no joke
Up the ladder I did grope, that's no joke
Up the ladder I did grope, and the hangman pulled the rope
Oh and ne're a word I spoke, tumblin' down, tumblin' down
Oh and ne're a word I spoke, tumblin' down

Oh me name it is Sam Hall, chimney sweep, chimney sweep
Oh me name it is Sam Hall, chimney sweep
Oh me name it is Sam Hall, and I hate you(s) one and all
You're a bunch of muggers all, damn your eyes, damn your eyes
You're a bunch of muggers all, damn your eyes


Tear the House Down
G. Simmons

This world is either spinnin' way too fast or way too slow
And you gotta keep your head above confusion
Gotta get a job, guess it'll be Ontario
From the quiet bays to endless noise pollution
You're caught up in a brain drain
Can't live your life like a plain Jane
And you hear the ghetto war blastin' on the radio.
It's Yonge St. from Burkes Lane
Gotta put 'er up one more time before we go
And tear the House Down

Boys in boots and women with no shoes upon their feet
Time is flyin' 'til the early light
Tickin' tockin' now she's rockin'... dancin' in the street
Put your troubles out of mind and out of sight
But pocket change, nickel and dime
And common sense ain't worth the time
It's the same old, same old, wrapped in lily white
Let's shoot from the blueline
And put 'er up one more time tonight
We'll tear the house down
Tear the house down

So it's round up all the crowd
Loosen up the joint
Three sheets to the wind
Way up she's gonna go tonight
Dance your feet down to your knees
Wake up the girls next door.
Let's dance upon the roof
What odds about the kitchen floor
We'll tear the house down
Tear the house down


Dancin' Round the Kitchen
D. Fitzpatrick

My Pop was a hard workin' man from Spaniards Bay
He never had much time to stop
He'd work 'till late in the evening from the break of dawn
For enough to get him by was all he got

Grandma's gentle hand touched so many hearts in town
Everyone around called her Nan
She knew just how to pick you up when you were feelin' down
Always there to help a stranger or a friend

CHORUS:
I remember watching my Pop and my Nan
Waltzing to the Black Velvet Band
Smiles on their faces, they embraced one another
Dancin' round the kitchen, hand in hand

Up in the garden when I should have been in school
Workin' the ground with my Pop
He said "there's work to be done son, you must lend a hand
You know we're all depending on the crop"

CHORUS

Nan, she'd always greet you with a kiss and a smile
They worked real hard then took time out for awhile

CHORUS


Frog in the Well
Traditional

There was a frog lived in the well
"Hi ho" said Roly
There was a frog lived in the well
And a merry mouse in the dell
With me roly poly cabbage and spinach
And hi for Anthony Roly

Said the frog I must go forth
With me baynet and me sword

Little Miss Mouse was having her tea
Says he "Miss Mouse, would ya marry me"

Where oh will the weddin' be
Down at the butt of an Ivy tree

Now we're all in very good cheer
If we had some music here

In came the bumble bee
And clamped a bagpipe on his knee

Now we're all in very good cheer
If we had some dancin' here

In came the butterfly
She swore she'd dance until she died

The next on the floor was Uncle Rat
He up and danced a jig on the mat

The frog jumped up with a terrible fright
He dobbed his hat and he said goodnight

As the frog was crossing the stream
A big duck came and jabobbled him up


Peter Street
Traditional

Oh you landsmen and you seamen, come listen to my song
It's of a trick was played on me, it wont delay you long
I came from sea the other day, a fair girl I did meet
She kindly asked me to a dance, t'was up on Peter Street

"Oh no" says I "me fair maid, though I can dance quite well
Tonight I'm bound for Wicklow's Town 'tis where my people dwell"
"You'd better come with me" she said "for the distance is not far"
And finding her so friendlily I jumped into her car

Well as the dance was over, straight to the bed did go
Was little did I ever think she'd pull my overthrow
Robbed my gold watch and 30 pounds, a pack of fags and fled
And left me there stark naked alone upon the bed

Now when I awoke in the morning, it was nothing did I spy
But a woman's shirt and apron upon the bed did lie
I wrung my hands and tore my hair and cried what shall I do
For tonight I'm bound for Wicklow's Town, no more will I see you

Well as the streets were lonesome at the hour of 2 o'clock
I put on the shirt and apron and marched down to the dock
The crew they saw me coming, these words to me did say
"My dear old chap you struck a snap since you've been gone away

Are those the new spring fashions that the ladies wear on shore
Where is the shop you bought them at, and is there anymore"
The captain on the quarter-deck looked at me with frown
Saying "Jack I'd buy a better suit than that for thirty pounds"

"I would sir if I could sir, if I'd only got the chance
But I met a girl on Peter Street and she asked me to a dance
She danced my heart's deception, I got robbed from head to feet
And I'll take my oath no more I'll go to a dance on Peter Street"
Oh you landsmen and you seamen, a warning take by me
Be sure to choose good company when you go out on spree
Be sure to choose good company or you'll find yourself like me
With a woman's shirt and apron for to fit you out for sea


Spanish Lady
Traditional

As I went out through Galway City
At the hour of 12 at night
Who should I see but a Spanish lady
Combing her hair by candlelight
First she tossed it then she brushed it
On her lap with a silver comb
In all my life I ne're did see
A maid so sweet since I did roam

CHORUS:
Ratty and ah too dum too dum too dum
Ratty and ah too dum too dum day
Ratty and ah too dum too dum too dum
Ratty and ah too dum too dum day

Lassie I have gold and silver
Your kind favour for to win
What would give me the greatest pleasure
If you never did call again
What would I do if I went a rovin'
Rovin' out in the morning dew
What would I do if I went a rovin'
Rovin' out with a lad like you

CHORUS

Did you ever see the grass in the morning
All bedecked with jewels rare
Did you ever see a handsome damsel
Diamonds sparkling in her hair
Did you ever see a copper kettle
Mended with an old tin can
Did you ever see a handsome damsel
Married off to an ugly man

CHORUS

I travelled north and travelled south
And across the ocean wide
I'll ne're forget the Spanish Lady
Oft I wished her for my bride
Old age has it's hand upon me
Cold as fire of ashy coals
In all my life I ne're did see
A maid so sweet about the soul


Heave Away
Traditional

Come get your duds in order 'cause we're bound across the water
Heave away, me jollies, heave away
Come get your duds in order 'cause we're bound to leave tomorrow
Heave away me jolly boys, we're all bound away

CHORUS:
Sometimes we're bound for Liverpool, Sometimes we're bound for Spain
Heave away, me jollies, heave away
But now we're bound for old St.John's, where all the girls are dancin'
Heave away me jolly boys, we're all bound away

I wrote me love a letter, it was on the Jenny Lynn
Heave away, me jollies, heave away
I wrote me love a letter and I signed it with a ring
Heave away, me jolly boys, we're all bound away

CHORUS

So it's farewell Nancy darlin', 'cause it's now I'm gonna leave ya
Heave away, me jollies, heave away
You promised that you'd marry me, but how you did deceive me
Heave away me jolly boys we're all bound away

CHORUS


Lilly
G. Simmons

I crossed the wildest ocean
And I reached the other side
It's help from above and thoughts of your love
That keep my soul alive
I swam the highest river
And I fought the strongest tide
To prove my love true and pledge it to you
You're the reason I survive
And day after day while I'm far away...

CHORUS:
Lily, I'll keep your light on
So help me, I cross my heart
Dance with me please, in sweet memories
To keep me till I come back home
And one man can't stand it alone

Some days we long for freedom
Some days we hold the reins
Some days we see some live for free
Some still endure the pain
It's a mountain of emotion
Under God's great guiding hand
When love has to part, the emptiest heart
Builds mountains out of sand
But your light shines along, keeps me goin' on...

CHORUS