MUSSELS IN THE CORNER
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Words and tune:
- Traditional
Locations associated with this song:
Background Info:
The origins of this song are probably in mouth music and playful insults, an origin shared by Lukey's Boat. In the early part of the 20th century, St. John's was visited every week by a small army of farmers from Torbay, Portugal Cove and Bell Island, knocking on doors, selling their wares. Traditional "Torbay jokes" found their way into the verses of this song, which – like so many Newfoundland ditties – varied from singer to singer. The lyrics below are from the version sung by entertainer John White.
Lyrics:
'Deed I am in love with you,
Out all night in the foggy dew;
'Deed I am in love with you,
Mussels in the corner.
All the people on Belle Isle
Don't get up 'til half past nine;
Lights their fire with kerosene oil,
Wabana you're a corker.
Ask a bayman for a smoke,
He will say his pipe is broke;
Ask a bayman for a chew,
He will bite it off for you.
When your eyeballs they get loose,
Hark I think I hears the Bruce,
Harbour Grace and Carbonear,
Oh lord heavens, take I dere.
Here they are as thick as flies,
Dirty shirts and dirty ties,
Dirty rings around their eyes,
Dirty old Torbay men.
There they are as wild as goats,
Baymen in their little boats,
Women in their petticoats,
Bound for Petty Harbour.