“Maids of Simcoe (Ontario)”
Description
The singer urges the girls to remember the loggers while waiting at home with the farmers. He remarks sarcastically on the dangers farmers face. The boys head for (Quebec) to party, then for home. (In some texts a girl at an inn falls in love with him)
Supplemental text
Maids of Simcoe (Ontario)
Partial text(s)
*** A ***
Ye Maidens of Ontario
From Franz Rickaby, Ballads and Songs of the Shanty-Boy
(1926), pp. 79-81. From A. C. Hannah of Bemidji, Minnesota.
O ye maidens of Ontario, give ear to what I write,
In driving down these rapid streams where raftsmen take delight.
In driving down these rapid streams as raftsmen they must do,
While these low and loafing farmers they stay at home with you.
(6 additional stanzas)
Notes
There are two places in Ontario called "Simcoe." Arthur Lant, of New York (who sang the version found in Doerflinger), thought it referred to Simcoe *county* (on the southeastern corner of Georgian Bay, and extending down to Lake Simcoe). The town of Simcoe, which is farther from the logging regions, is in Norfolk County in southern Ontario, a short distance from Lake Erie and almost due north of Erie, Pennsylvania.
Fowke reports that this song "is descended from an old English broadside, 'Ye Gentlemen of England, or The Stormy Winds Do Blow.'" - RBW
Cross references
- cf. "The Union Boy" (tune, floating verses)
References
- Doerflinger, pp. 241-242, "The Maids of Simcoe" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Rickaby 16, "Ye Maidens of Ontario" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Fowke/Johnston, pp. 76-77, "Ye Maidens of Ontario" (1 text, 1 tune)
- ST Doe241 (Partial)
- Roud #3289
- BI, Doe241