“The Calabar”
Description
The singer calls "dry-land sailors" to hear of the (Calabar), sailing the (Strabane canal). The food runs out. They hit mud, and throw off the captain's wife to lighten ship. They fight off a "pirate" scow. The captain says he'll take the train next time.
Notes
Sort of an Irish version of "The E-ri-e." It doesn't follow that it's older, though; there are references to steam.
Harte makes the interesting comment that he never encountered a serious canal song, adding that a canalman told him that the worst danger on the canal boats was fleas! Harte's statement is a little strong -- there are a couple of minor canal disaster songs in the American tradition -- but he isn't far wrong. - RBW
Also collected and sung by David Hammond, "Cruise of the Calabar" (on David Hammond, "I Am the Wee Falorie Man: Folk Songs of Ireland," Tradition TCD1052 CD (1997) reissue of Tradition LP TLP 1028 (1959)) - BS
Cross references
- cf. "The E-ri-e" (theme) and references there
- cf. "The Wreck of the Mary Jane" (theme and first line)
- cf. "The Wreck of the Varty" (theme and first line)
References
- SHenry H502, pp. 98-99, "The Cruise of the Calabar" (1 text, 1 tune)
- OLochlainn-More 17, "The Cruise of the Calabar" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Hammond-Belfast, pp. 32-33, "The Cruise of the Calibar" (1 text, 1 tune)
- DT, CALABARR
- ADDITIONAL: Frank Harte _Songs of Dublin_, second edition, Ossian, 1993, pp. 16-17, "The Cruise of the Calabad" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Roud #1079
- BI, HHH502