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We were bound home in October from the shores of Labrador,
Trying to head a bad nor'easter and snow, too;
But the wind swept down upon us, making day as black as night,
Just before we made the land of Baccalieu.
Oh, we tried to clear the island as we brought her farther south,
And the wind from out the nor'east stronger blew;
Till our lookout soon he shouted and there lay dead ahead,
Through the snow squalls loomed the cliffs of Baccalieu.
It was hard down by the tiller as we struggled with the sheets,
Tried our best to haul them in a foot or two;
Till our decks so sharply tilted that we could barely keep our feet,
As we hauled her from the rocks of Baccalieu.
Oh, the combers beat her under and we thought she ne'er would rise,
And her main-boom was bending nigh in two;
With our lee rails three feet under and two hands at the wheel,
Sure, we hauled her from the rocks of Baccalieu.
Oh, to leeward was the island and to win'ard was the gale,
And the blinding sleet would cut you through and through;
But our hearts were beating gladly for no longer could we gaze,
Down to leeward at the cliffs of Baccalieu.
First sung by Jack Withers in April, 1934, on the popular serial radio show The Adventures of the Irene B. Mellon.
A variant was recorded by Harry Hibbs (The Incredible Harry Hibbs, trk#12, 1969, Arc Sound Ltd, Toronto, ON).
See more songs by Harry Hibbs.
A variant was also recorded as Cliffs Of Baccalieu by Ryan's Fancy (A Time With Ryan's Fancy, trk#5, ©1979, Boot Records, Mississauga, ON); and (Songs From The Shows, trk#4, Avondale Music, St. John's, NL) and is featured in the YouTube video above.
Liner Notes: Vocal — Denis Ryan.
Baccalieu is an island approximately two miles off shore at the northern entrance to Conception Bay, Newfoundland. Sailing vessels returning from the Labrador fishery were quite often at the mercy of treacherous winds and turbulent seas so prevalent around this coastline.
See more songs by Ryan's Fancy.
Also recorded by The Masterless Men (On The Run, trk#6, 2002, Landwash Distribution Company, Ltd).
See more songs by Masterless Men.
A variant was recorded by D'Arcy Broderick of Bay de Verde, NL (By Request, trk#6, 2006, self-produced, Torbay, NL).
See more songs by the D'Arcy Broderick.
Variants were also recorded by: Bristol's Hope (Lately Come Over, trk#7, 1997, Pigeon Inlet Productions, St. John's, NL) and Ocean's Away (A Rock In The Ocean, trk#4, 2004, REA Studios, Puslinch, ON).
The YouTube video below features a recording by Louise Morrissey [b.1961] of Bansha, County Tipperary, Ireland (Lets' Sing Together, trk#16).
From the American Meteorological Society Glossary:
Comber — a large wave that rolls over or breaks on a beach, reef, etc.
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Notes On Guitar Tabs:
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All guitar tabs have been contributed by visitors to this site and represent their interpretation of the tune. We are unable to verify their accuracy.
From an arrangement by Harry Hibbs.
We were (A) bound home (E) in (A) October from the shores of (E) Labra-(A) dor,
Trying to (D) head a bad nor'-(E) easter and snow, (A) too;
But the wind swept (E) down upon (A) us, making day as (E) black as (A) night,
Just (D) before we made (E) the land of (A) Baccalieu.
~ Chords contributed by Barry Penton ~
