“Song of the Tangier Gold Mines”

Description

Gold mining begins May 1861 "back of Tangier and Pope's Harbour." Men leave their work, wives, and sweethearts "for the sake of 'Tangier gold"; ladies "go upon the diggings the miners for to see." Wish the miners success and hope they will be generous

Supplemental text

Song of the Tangier Gold Mines
  Partial text(s)

          *** A ***

From Helen Creighton, Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia, #145, pp. 316-318.
"Sung by... Mr. Hiram O. Hilshie, Dartmouth," said to be the nephew of the
composer, Catherine Hart.

Oh, in eighteen hundred and  sixty-one
  All in the month of May,
When Nova Scotia was very poor,
  As I ofttimes heard them say;
But since I've got a secret,
  A story I'll unfold,
Back of Tangier and Pope's Harbour
  Where they're digging out the gold.

(11 additional stanzas plus a half stanza)

Notes

Tangier is on the coast of Nova Scotia, about 60 miles east of Halifax. - BS

Creighton notes that the mining in the Tangier area was extensive but not particularly profitable. But the song was written when the boom was just beginning, so hopes were high. - RBW

Historical references

• 1860 - Opening of the Tangier Gold Mines (Source: Halifax Archives per Creighton-NovaScotia)

References

1. Creighton-NovaScotia 145, "Song of the Tangier Gold Mines" (1 text, 1 tune)
2. ST CrNS145 (Partial)
3. Roud #1841
4. BI, CrNS145