“The Bird Rocks”

Description

"Twas winter down the icy gulf, The Gulf St Lawrence wide." The Bird Rocks lighthouse keeper, his son, and helper are swept away. His wife keeps the light burning until spring. Like her we should "in sorrow's darkest night ... show the world our light"

Supplemental text

Bird Rocks, The
  Partial text(s)

          *** A ***

As printed in Ryan & Small, Haulin' Rope & Gaff, pp. 110-111. From
Greenleaf & Mansfield, Ballads and Sea Songs of Newfoundland; collected
in 1929 from Annie Walters.

'Twas winter down the icy gulf,
THe Gulf St. Lawrence wide,
Where stands a lighthouse on a rock,
The sailor's friend and guide.

The keeper had his wife and son,
A helper, too, had he;
These four alone lived on that rock
Surrounded by the sea.

(11 additional stanzas)

Notes

Bird Rocks is an islet in the Gulf of St Lawrence, northeast of Magdalen Islands in East Quebec. - BS

References

1. Greenleaf/Mansfield 144, "The Bird Rocks" (1 text, 1 tune)
2. Peacock, pp. 903-904, "The Bird Rocks" (1 text, 1 tune)
3. Blondahl, pp. 69-70, "The Bird Rocks" (1 text, 1 tune)
4. Ryan/Small, pp. 110-111, "The Bird Rocks" (1 text, 1 tune)
5. ST GrMa144 (Partial)
6. Roud #6348
7. BI, GrMa144