Cliffs of Baccalieu

CLIFFS OF BACCALIEU

Music & Lyrics by Jack Withers (1935)

Accordion Notation

Beats per bar = 4
Beat symbol = Dot ( . ) or equivalen

Either row: Buttons 4 - 8*

Initially place fingers at buttons 4 to 7, and (in line 2) reach with little finger to button 8*

Verse 1 (of 6)

   "4 "4* .5         .7       ;7   "7* .7*   :6 "5     "4* .4        .5 .6*   .5* .:5
We were bound home in   Oc - to - ber from the shores of Lab - ra - dor

   "7* "7 ;8* "7 .7*    .6 .6* .6 .6* .5* :::5 .r
Tryin' to race a strong Nor' - eas - ter and snow    too

"4   "4* .5       .7 ;7 "7* .7* :6 "5    "4* .4    .5 .6* .5* .:5
But the wind swept down up - on us, mak-ing    day as dark as     night,

"7* "7 ;8* "7 ;7* "6 .6* .5 "5*    ;6* :::6 .r
Just be - fore we made it    down to Bac - ca - lieu

Embedded youTube VIDEOS

Seven videos in various keys: A=2 C=2 D=2 G=1

Key: D

Tempo: ~112 bpm

Singer: Allison Crowe (2013)
Posted by: Allison Crowe

Key: C

Tempo: ~226 bpm.

Accordion player: Poss Slaney.

Posted by: Newfieposs

Key: C

Tempo: ~110 bpm.

Singer: ?

Accordion player: ?

Posted by: moosehunter

Key: G

Tempo: ~116 bpm.

Group: Baccalieu Rovers

Posted by: Gerard Broderick

Key: A

Tempo: ~240 bpm

Group: CodSkiff

Accordion player: Harold ?

Posted by: codskiff04

Key: D

Tempo: ~128 bpm

Singer: Stan Rogers

Posted by: CPSWard

Key: A

Tempo: ~187 bpm

Singer: John White

Posted by: oldirishladdie

BACKGROUND MATERIALS, INFORMATION & LINKS

Lyrics:
(A five-verse version)

We were bound home in October, from the shores of Labrador,
Trying to race a strong nord-easter and snow too;
When the wind swept down upon us, making day a dark as night,
Just before we made the land at Baccalieu.

Well, we tried to clear the island, as we brought her further to,
But the wind from out the nord-east stronger blew;
And our lookout soon he shouted, for there right dead ahead,
Through the snow squalls loomed the cliffs of Baccalieu.

And it was hard down with the tiller, as we struggled with the sheets,
Tryin' our best to haul them in a foot or two;
With our deck so sharply tilted, we could scarcely keep our feet,
As we struggled off the cliffs of Baccalieu.

For the combers beat her under, and I thought she'd never rise,
And her main boom it was bending nigh in two;
With her lee rail three foot under, yes and two hands at the wheel,
We just kept her from the cliffs of Baccalieu.

Yes, we hauled her to the southard, and her canvas stood the strain,
And the blinding snow squalls from the nordeast blew;
But our hearts were beatin' gladly, When no longer could we gaze
Down to leeward at the cliffs of Baccalieu.

All six original verses may be found in many sources, but two of my favorites are:

Favorite Songs of Newfoundland (Lyric & Music Editors: Alan Mills and Kenneth Peacock), Published by BMI Canada Limited (1958). Most of these songs were selected from the collection of the late Gerald S. Doyle.
Sing around this one: Songs of Newfoundland and Labrador Volume 2, Edited and arranged by Eric West, with notes on the songs by Dr. Philip Hiscock, and music editing by Sheilah Hewlett and Anne Devine , Published by Vinland Music - third Edition (2005). This is the second in an excellent series of books, with arrangements for piano, vocal and guitar. If you are into the music of Newfoundland and Labrador, you can obtain great value from these books

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Background Links:

Click HERE for Wikipedia background information and lyrics. This opens in a separate window to make it easy to return to this site.

One of the finest performances of this song is by Anita Best, who, with the music of Bristol's Hope, captures its emotions (tension and relief), something missing in some of the other performances. Visit this site, which opens in a separate window, to hear Anita. It also contains the lyrics for the song, a fine performance by Alison Crowe, and links to a range of background information.