Ferryland Sealer

Oh, our schooner and our sloop in Ferryland they do lie
They are already rigged to be bound for the ice
All you lads of the Southern we will have you to beware
She is going to the ice in the Spring of the year

Laddie whack fall the laddie, laddie whack fall the day

We had vittles for to last more than two months at the least.
And plenty of good rum, boys, stowed away in our chest.
We will give her a rally for to praise all our fancy,
All our seals will be collected by the William and the Nancy.

Our course be east-north-east for two days and two nights;
Our captain he cried out 'Boys, look ahead for the ice!'
And we hove her about standing in for the land,
And 'twas in a few hours we were firm in the jam.

Oh our captain he cried out, 'Come on, boys, and bear a hand!'
Our cook he gets the breakfast and each man takes a dram.
With their hats in their hands it was earlye to go,
Every man showed his action 'thout the missing of a blow.

Some were killing some were scalping, some were hauling on board,
And some more they were firing and a-missing of their loads.
In the dusk of the evening all hands in from the cold,
And we counted nine hundred fine scalps in the hold.

Oh, now we are loaded and our schooner she is sound,
And the ice it is open and to Ferryland we're bound.
We all gave her a rally for to praise all our fancy:
Our seals they were collected by the William and the Nancy.

We are now off Cape Spear and in sight of Cape Broyle:
We will dance, sing, carouse, my boys, in just a little while.
We will soon enjoy the charms of our sweethearts and friends,
For it will not be long before we're down to the bend.

From Fowke, Penguin Book of Canada Folk Songs
SOF