“We Will Not Go to White Bay with Casey Any More”
Description
"Tom Casey being commander Of the Saint Patrick by name," 28 men sign up to go sealing. They quickly become "jammed in White Bay Until the last of May." After many hard times, the sealers manage to return home
Supplemental text
We Will Not Go to White Bay with Casey Any More
Partial text(s)
*** A ***
As printed in Ryan & Small, Haulin' Rope & Gaff, p. 15. Reprinted
from James Murphy, Songs Sung by Old Time Sealers of Many Years Ago.
Tom Casey being commander
Of the St. Patrick called by name.
With 28 as brave a boys
As ever ploughed the main.
It was upon the 1st of March
From Carbonear we set sail,
Wind from the West South West, my boys
A smart and pleasant gale.
(7 additional stanzas)
Notes
Although this sounds as if it should refer to an actual event, no one seems to know the time or date. It's not clear that it's traditional, either, though Ryan and Small don't list an author, and claim there is a different version known. - RBW
Cross references
- cf. "Davy Lowston" (plot)
References
- Ryan/Small, p. 16, "We Will Not Go To White Bay With Casey Any More" (1 text)
- ST RySm016 (Partial)
- BI, RySm016