Here are all of the lyrics to GBS's debut album called Great Big Sea. Enjoy!
Great Big Sea/Gone By The Board Great big sea hove in Long Beach, Great big sea hove in the Harbour Mother, dear I wants a sack "Me boot is broke, me frock is tore Fish is gone and the flour is high She will have me in the fall Great big sea hove in Long Beach, Someday Soon They keep talking of the things they'd do if we'd only vote them in Chorus: Cause they said they'd stop the fighting Saw a man sleep in an alley lane with a paper for a bed Chorus Well they said it would be so different, if we'd would only play their games Chorus 2x Excursion Around The Bay Well it was on this monday morning Chorus: Oh me, oh my, I heard me old wife cry We had fourteen hundred souls aboard, oh what a splendid sight! Chorus Me wife she got no better, she turned a sickly green Chorus My wife she got no better, my wife me darling dear Chorus She died below the brandy's as we were coming back Chorus What Are You At? Well I was walking in the main land city Cause that's the way we say hello in my home down by the sea Chorus: But then I walked into a shopping mall and much to my surprise I think I like my hometown friend the best one of them all Chorus 2x Let this be a lesson to all our people who go away Chorus Fisherman's Lament I stand in my doorway as the moon rises high Chorus: And I spent my whole life, out there on the sea I fished with my father, so long long ago We challenged great storms and sometimes we won Chorus My father is gone now, and the fish are gone too. DFO regulations permitted the rape Chorus You brave Newfoundlanders, now listen to me And I spent my whole life, out there on the sea I'se The B'y I'se The B'y that builds the boat and Chorus: Hip-yer-partner Sally Tibbo Sods and rinds to cover your flake, Chorus Chorus I took Liza to a dance, Chorus Susan White she's outta sight, Chorus I'se The B'y that builds the boat and Chorus Drunken Sailor What do you do with a drunken sailor, Chorus: Way hay and up she rises Shave his belly with a rusty razor, Chorus Put him in the hold with the Captain's daughter, Chorus What do you do with a drunken sailor, Chorus Put him the back of the paddy wagon, Chorus Throw him in the lock-up 'til he's sober, Chorus What do you do with a drunken sailor, Chorus What do you do with a drunken sailor, Chorus Irish Paddy/Festival Reel/Rodgers Reel Its of an Irishman I'm going to tell you Early next morning the ship was sailing Up the street young Paddy wandered Into the bar young Paddy entered The landlord he jumped over the counter So the Yankees they came running Irishmen they followed after May God's success to his Irish people Time Brings Hearken to me both high and low Now love is grand, when love is new He'll tease her with poems and promises Chorus: For time it comes, and time it goes But he goes out, with his drinking pals There's no more walks, down lover's lane Chorus Now all who wish for love to stay Chorus Jigs: Eavesdropper's/Both Meat & Drink/Off We Go Berry Picking Time Well I spied a berry bush as I was strolling home one day How well I do remember the day when we first met Chorus: We were picking berries at Old Aunt Mary's Then at love's suggestion, I popped the question Chorus Well how sweet you were that day, in your simple gingham gown Chorus
Whack fal-o-ral tad-dle did-dle i-do,
Great big sea hove in Long Beach,
Granny Snooks she lost her speech,
To me right fol-di-dy fol-dee.
Whack fal-o-ral tad-dle did-dle i-do,
Great big sea hove in the Harbour
Hove right up to Keough's Parlour
To me right fol-di-dy fol-dee.
Whack fal-o-ral tad-dle did-dle i-do,
Mother, dear I wants a sack
With beads and buttons all down me back
To me right fol-di-dy fol-dee.
Whack fal-o-ral tad-dle did-dle i-do,
Boot is broke, me frock is tore,
But Granny Snooks I do adore.
To me right fol-di-dy fol-dee.
Whack fal-o-ral tad-dle did-dle i-do,
Fish is gone and the flour is high
Granny Snooks she can't have I
To me right fol-di-dy fol-dee.
Whack fal-o-ral tad-dle did-dle i-do,
If she don't I'll hoist my sail
Hove right up to old Canaille.
To me right fol-di-dy fol-dee.
Whack fal-o-ral tad-dle did-dle i-do,
Great big sea hove in Long Beach,
Granny Snooks she lost her speech,
To me right fol-di-dy fol-dee
One more dollar and all the bickering and suffering would end.
If you'd sign your 'X' in favour it's three jobs for every man
You can burn your boats, thats what they said,
It seemed they had it planned.
And I hope they haven't forgotten, the promises they made
And they said they would bring peace
And they said they'd find a serum that can cure all our disease.
And they said they'd house the homeless
And put black and white in tune
And they said they'd feed a hungry child
And I hope it's someday soon
And the headline shown beneath the man and this is what they read,
"If elected there would be no persons living in the street"
But the paper couldn't even provide shelter for his freezing feet.
And I hope they haven't forgotten, The promises they made
And I've been playing for so long and I swear its still the same!
And the day be calm and fine
A harbour grace excursion
With the boys who had the time
And just before the sailor
Took the gangway from the pier
I saw some fellow haul me wife
Aboard as a volunteer
Oh me, oh my, I think I'm gonna die!
Oh me, oh my, I heard me old wife say,
"I wish I'd never taken this excursion around the bay"
Left stong and regimental to make our spirits bright
And meself being in the double, when a funny things they'd say
They choke themselves from laughing when they'd see us in the bay,br>
I fed her cake and candy, fat pork and kerosene
Castor Oil and sugar of candy, I rubbed pure oil on her face
And I said she'll be a dandy when we reaches Harbour Grace!
The screeches from her trollear could hear in Carbonear
I tried every place in Harbour Grace,
Tried every store and shop,
To get her something for a cure or take her to the hop
We buried her in the ocean, wrapped up in a Union Jack
So now I am a single man, in search of a pretty face
And the woman that says she'll have me, I'm off for Harbour Grace!,br>
And I was feeling so alone
I was looking for someone or thing to remind me of my home
What I wouldn't give to have somebody nod or wink at me
We never say "hello" or "how's it going?", "good day" or any of that
We just look at them and nod our heads and wink say 'Whadd'ya At?'
Whadd'ya At? How's she going buddy, Whadd'ya At today?
Whadd'ya At? How's she going buddy, Whadd'ya At today?
An old friend from my hometown was a sight for my sore eyes
And of all the people I met down in the city or in the mall
Because he didn't say "hello" or "hows it going today?" or any of that
My old friend he just looked at me and smiled said "Whadd'ya At?"
Remember if you meet someone the special words we say
We don't ever say "hello" or "how's it going?", "good day"
Or any of that.
You just look at them and nod your head now wink say "Whadd'ya At?"
Over glorious ocean, reflects the bright sky
My heart it is aching, so much I could die
I've known only the ocean, since I was a boy
Some government bastard now takes it from me
It's not just the fish, they've taken my pride
I feel so ashamed that I just want to hide
We were proud of our trade, and in us it did show
We held our heads high, there was lots of fish then
That was the time, when we were proud men
Faced death and disaster, we rose with the sun
We worked and we toiled, we strained our men brane
We were a proud people, will we ere be again?
Abused and mis-managed, oh what can we do?
I'm too old to change, but what of my sons,
How will they know that we weren't the ones?
Of our beautiful ocean, from head land to cape
They brought in big trollers, they tore up our twine
Politians don't care for what's yours or what's mine!
Shove the package to hell, go back to the sea
If we don't stand our ground, we will fade away
And the bones of our fathers will turn into clay
Some government bastard now takes it from me
It's not just the fish, they've taken my pride
I feel so ashamed that I just want to die.Back to the sea.
I'se The B'y that sails her and
I'se The B'y that catches the fish and
Brings 'em home to Liza
Hip-yer-partner Sally Brown
Fogo, Twillingate, Morton's Harbour,
All around the circle
Cake and tea for supper
Cod fish in the spring of the year,
Fried in maggoty butter
I don't want your maggoty fish
They're no good for winter
Well I can buy as good as that,
Way down in Bonavista!
As fast as she can travel,
And every step that she could take,
Was up to her knees in gravel
Her petticoat wants a border,
Well old Sam Oliver in the dark,
He kissed her in the corner!
I'se The B'y that sails her and
I'se The B'y that catches the fish and
Brings 'em home to Liza
What do you do with a drunken sailor,
What do you do with a drunken sailor,
Earl-eye in the morning!
Way hay and up she rises
Way hay and up she rises
Earl-eye in the morning
Shave his belly with a rusty razor,
Shave his belly with a rusty razor,
Earl-eye in the morning!
Put him in the hold with the Captain's daughter,
Put him in the hold with the Captain's daughter,
Earl-eye in the morning!
What do you do with a drunken sailor,
What do you do with a drunken sailor,
Earl-eye in the morning!
Put him the back of the paddy wagon,
Put him the back of the paddy wagon,
Earl-eye in the morning!
Throw him in the lock-up 'til he's sober,
Throw him in the lock-up 'til he's sober,
Earl-eye in the morning!
What do you do with a drunken sailor,
What do you do with a drunken sailor,
Earl-eye in the morning!
What do you do with a drunken sailor,
What do you do with a drunken sailor,
Earl-eye in the morning!
Free from Ireland sailed away
Where he was to he was not contended
Made up his mind for to go away
Queenstown harbour, golden core
Eight long days he was sailing over
Till he landed in New York
Each big building caught his eye
Looking up at a big shop window,
A bottle of whisky he did spy
Called for a drink, without delay
Give me a drop of that Irish Whisky,
Four big coppers I will pay
"Pay me down that bill", he said
Paddy up with a big shillelagh
Laid him on the floor right dead
When they heard about the row
Trying to kill poor Irish Paddy,
Shouting out, "Where is he now?!"
Following without delay
Each of them with a big shillelagh,
Made the Yankees run away
Many's the country they have roamed
But their courage is far bolder
When they're far away from home
I'll sing for you a song
Of Kings and Queens, and rose-lipped maidens
Courting light foot lads
The heart blood, it runs strong
There's nothing a doting lad won't do
To keep his princess warm
He'll ask her out to dance
He'll cajole and he'll beg
And he'll always win
In bitter-sweet romance
It makes the strongest tree to bend
Kings and Queens have no defence
Time brings all things to an end.
His eyes begin to roam
He forgets all about the brown-eyed beauty
Who now, sits home alone
There's no more wine in the sun
All that's left is a hollow pain
Time, alas you've won
And last your whole life through
Keep ahead of time me boys
And never be untrue
These are Jigs so there are no words these.
And somehow it brought back the bygone days
Of when you and I were berry picking many years ago
In a little county not so far away
It leaves a picture in my mind I never can forget
When I picked a blushing bride
As we strolled home together, I just wondered whether
I could win you forever if I tried
And asked you to be mine
By your kisses I knew, you'd picked me and I'd picked you
At berry picking time
To me you were as lovely as a Queen
When from underneath your bonnet popped a pair of golden curls
And the bluest eyes that I have ever seen
Your lips were red as cherries, the taste was twice as sweet
It only took one kiss to make my happiness complete
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