I'SE  THE  B'Y

While it can be played slowly as a waltz, it is often played (quickly) as a jig.


Composer:  Not sure, but perhaps
Mark Gatehouse /Joseph Deering
 Button-Accordion Notation 

​Either row:  Buttons 2 to 5 (low) or 5 to 8 (high)     
Verse 1 (low)

  4      4      4     4       3*      2*       2  
I'se   the   b'y  that  builds  the    boat

  2       4     4    4     4      4*      5
And  I'se  the  b'y  that  sails  her

  4     4     4     4      3*   3*     2*     2
I'se  the  b'y  that  cat-ches  the  fish 

   2       2         2*       3*     2*  3     3
And  brings  them  home  to   Li - zer.
Verse 1 (high)

​  7      7      7     7       7*      6*       5  
I'se   the   b'y  that  builds  the    boat

  5       7     7    7     7      8*      8
And  I'se  the  b'y  that  sails  her

 7      7     7     7      7*   7*    6*     5
I'se  the  b'y  that  cat-ches  the  fish 

   5       5         6*       7*     6*  6     6
And  brings  them  home  to   Li - zer.
Embedded youTube Videos

Four videos in the keys:  C=1    (played on inside row of a G-C accordion)
                                        D=1    (played on inside row of an A-D accordin)
                                        G=2    (played on outside row of a G-C accordion)
 
Some of these performances are quite fast.  You may want to set the play-back speed to 75% or 50% (but not the terrible-sounding 25%).
Key:   C
​
Guitarist:  ?

Posted by:  Primo Guitar

Good pace (tempo) for beginners.
​Key:  D

JIg tempo: ~ 155 bpm

Singer:  Dick Nolan

​Posted by:  VenomousNewfie

The singing part follows the notation above.  However the instrumental parts are a variant of the main melody.
​Key: G 

Jig tempo:  ~ 165 bpm.

Group:  Shanneyganock 

Posted by: Don Shorock's Channel

A performance in Memphis, Tennessee in 2009, with the great Mark Hiscock on the accordion.
Key: G 

Choir:  ?

Posted by: BY Liu

I'se the b'y appears to be a favorite with choral groups everywhere.  
BACKGROUND MATERIALS, INFORMATION & LINKS
Remaining
​Lyrics:

(Sing chorus after each verse)
Verse 2




Verse 3




Verse 4




Verse 5
Sods and rinds to cover your flake,
Cake and tea for supper
Codfish in the spring o' the year
Fried in maggoty butter.

I don't want your maggoty fish
They're no good for winter
I can buy better than that
Down in Bonavista.

I took Liza to a dance
As fast as she could travel
And every step that she did take
Was up to her knees in gravel.

Susan White, she's out of sight
Her petticoat wants a border
Old Sam Oliver in the dark
He kissed her in the corner.
Background Links:
In "Notes on the Songs" at end of Catch ahold this One (Vinland Music, 2013), Neil Rosenberg states that "There is reason to suggtest that the song was written in the Notre Dame Bay community of Moreton's Harbour by Joseph Deer and/or Mark Gatehouse..... Coincidentally, both men married women with the first name Eliza."

Click HERE and HERE for additional info about this song.