#00006
The Cliffs Of Baccalieu (Jack Withers)
tabs, videos

See also: The Cliffs Of Baccalieu (Anita Best)
#348: YouTube video by quickaccent2006
℗2008 ~ Used with permission ~

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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.

####.... Jack Withers [1899-1964] ....####
First sung by Jack Withers in April, 1934, on the popular serial radio show The Adventures of the Irene B Mellon.

The video above features a variant 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 2001 CD, trk#4, Avondale Music, St John's, NL).

Liner Notes: Vocal - Denis Ryan.
Baccalieu is an island approximately two miles offshore 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 Ryan's Fancy songs.

Also recorded by The Masterless Men (On The Run, 2002 CD, trk#6, Landwash Distribution Company, Ltd).

See more Masterless Men songs.

A variant was recorded by D'Arcy Broderick of Bay de Verde, NL (By Request, 2006 CD, trk#6, Independent, Torbay, NL).

See more D'Arcy Broderick songs.

A variant was also recorded by Bristol's Hope as The Cliffs Of Baccalieu with lead vocalist Anita Best (Lately Come Over, A Year Of The Arts 1997 Project, trk#7, published by Pigeon Inlet Production, St John's, NL, produced by Sandy Morris and Kelly Russell, recorded and mixed at The Nickel Soundworks, St John's, NL).

See more Anita Best songs.

See more Kelly Russell songs.

A variant was also recorded by Oceans Away (A Rock In The Ocean, 2004 CD, trk#4, REA Studios, Puslinch, ON).

From the American Meteorological Society Glossary:
Comber - a large wave that rolls over or breaks on a beach, reef, etc.

The video below features a variant recorded by John White of St John's, NL (Voice Of Newfoundland / John White With The Ray Walsh Band, 1966 LP, trk#5, International Artists, Toronto, ON).

See more John White songs.

#1084: YouTube video by oldirishladdie
℗2010 ~ Used with permission ~

The video below features a recording by Louise Morrissey [b.1961] of Bansha, County Tipperary, Ireland (Lets' Sing Together, trk#16).

#665: YouTube video by oldirishladdie
℗2009 ~ Used with permission ~

The video below features a variant recorded by Harry Hibbs (The Incredible Harry Hibbs, 1969 LP, trk#12, Arc Sound Ltd, Toronto, ON).

See more Harry Hibbs songs.

#1138: YouTube video by quickaccent2006
℗2008 ~ Used with permission ~

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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 ~

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