The Ferryland Sealer
TradOur schooner and our sloop in Ferryland they do lie
They’re already rigged to be ready for the ice
All you lads of the Southern we will have you to be aware
She is going to the ice in the spring of the year
Laddie whack fall the laddie, laddie whack fall the day
We had vittles for to last for more than two months at least
And plenty of good rum, boys, stowed away in our chest
Then we’ll give her a rally for to praise all of our fancy
Our seals will be collected by the William and the Nancy
Laddie whack fall the laddie, laddie whack fall the day
Our course be east-north-east for two days and two nights
The captain he cried out, “Boys, look ahead for the ice!”
Then we hove her around standing in from the land
And ’twas in a few hours we were firm in the jam
Laddie whack fall the laddie, laddie whack fall the day
Our captain he cries out, “Come on, boys, and bear a’hand
The cook he gets the breakfast, every man he takes a dram
With their bats in their hands it was early to go
Every man showed his action without the missing of a blow
Laddie whack fall the laddie, laddie whack fall the day
Some were killing, some were scalping, some were hauling on board
And some of them were firing and a-missing of their loads
In the dusk of the evening it’s all hands in from the cold
And we counted nine hundred fine scalps in our hold
Laddie whack fall the laddie, laddie whack fall the day
Oh it’s now we are loaded and our schooner she is sound
The ice it is open and to Ferryland we’re bound
We all gave her a rally for to praise all of our fancy
Our seals they were collected by the William and the Nancy
Laddie whack fall the laddie, laddie whack fall the day
We are now off Cape Spear and in sight of Cape Broyle
We’ll dance, sing, carouse, my boys, in just a little while
We’ll soon enjoy the charms of our sweethearts and our friends
And it will not be long before we’re coming round the bend
Laddie whack fall the laddie, laddie whack fall the day