“The Sealing Cruise of the Lone Flier”

Description

The song chronicles the life of sealers traveling from Twillingate to St. John's then north to the ice fields for seals. Miscellaneous mishaps and achievements are told during the song and many names and factual information mentioned.

Supplemental text

Sealing Cruise of the Lone Flier, The
  Partial text(s)

          *** A ***

As printed in Ryan & Small, Haulin' Rope & Gaff, pp. 126-128. From the second (1940)
edition of Doyle's Old Time Songs and Poetry of Newfoundland.

Come all ye jolly seal-men and listen to my song;
I don't mean to offend you, and won't delay you long;
It's all about our sealing trip from Twillingate to St. John's.
We started to fit our vessel out before we had signed on.

Our ship was fitted very well, from a radio to a shovel.
The only thing delayed our ship was a little engine trouble.
While taking in our ballast, some of us were drunk,
And more of us worked very hard, while the others lay in bunk.

(14 additional stanzas)

Notes

The cruise in question is reported to have taken place from March 10 to April 25, 1929.

Very formulaic introduction of the "come-all-ye" variety with the singer assuring that he will neither "offend" the listener or run too long. [This even though Doyle's version runs 16 verses! - RBW] This is a very typical humble attitude of singers from Newfoundland as shown in many songs. - SH

References

1. Greenleaf/Mansfield 123, "The Sealing Cruise of the Lone Flier" (1 text, 1 tune)
2. Doyle2, pp. 14-15, "The Sealing Cruise of the Lone Flier" (1 text, 1 tune)
3. Blondahl, pp. 76-77, "The Sealing Cruise of the Lone Flier" (1 text, 1 tune)
4. Ryan/Small, pp. 126-128, "The Sealing Cruise of the Lone Flier" (1 text, 1 tune)
5. ST Doy14 (Partial)
6. Roud #7308
7. BI, Doy14