MUSSELS  IN  THE  CORNER

(2nd Intermediate Version - "Slow" Reel)
Based on a Traditional NL dance tune, we'll play it with 2 beats per bar. 
​
Button-Accordion Notation 
Beats per bar = 2
Beat symbol = Dot ( . ) or equivalent (pair of " ")
Suitable beat pattern:   Bass-Chord
Verse  =  Buttons 3 to 6
1st Instrumental = Buttons 3 to 6
2nd Instrumental = Buttons 6 to 9*
                        or = Buttons 3 to 5*
You may notice that in the youTube videos below, different performers do this number in different ways (some with 2 beats per bar, and some with 4 beats per bar, some with slightly different melodies), particularly for the instrumental part sometimes called the "turn".
Instrumental - Part 1  (with same tune as verse)
Instrumental - Part 2  (different tune from verse, but with same bass rhythm)

Verse 1:   

|   "6   "6*  "5*   "5    |    "4      "5      .5*   |
 Deed   I    am   in       love  with  you
                
  "5   "4    "3      "3*    |     "4    "3*   .3*   |
 Out  all  night  in-the     fog - gy  dew
                
   "6     "6*  "5*   "5    |    "4      "5      .5*    |
 Deed    I    am    in       love   with   you

   "5   "4    "3*  "4    |     .3      .3   |
​ Mus-sels  in   the      corn - er

Instrumental - Part 1  (with same tune as verse):



Instrumental - Part 2  -  different tune from verse, but with same rhythm.  Some performers
                                      prefer to drop Part 2 down tothe same octave as the verse (with
​                                      buttons 3 to 5*):

          |   "7    "7*     "6  "7*    |   "7  "8    .9*    |
          |   "4    "3*     "3  "3*    |   "4  "5    .5*    |

​              "8  "7        "6  "7*    |    "7  "7*   .7*   |
              "5  "4        "3  "3*    |    "4  "3*   .3*   |
    
              "7   "7*     "6  "7*     |   "7  "8     .9*   |
              "4   "3*     "3  "3*     |   "4  "5     .5*   |

              "8   "7      "7*  "7     |    .6        .6       |
              "5   "4      "3*  "4     |    .3        .3       |
 
There are a number of other instrumental "turns" that are also popular with this tune.
Embedded youTube VIDEOS

Total of 13 videos in various keys:  C = 4,  D = 6,  G = 3
Key:  D 

Group:  The Dorymen

Accordion:  Tom Rose

Vocals:  John Drake

Lead guitar:  Linda Stone

​Posted by: Garr1984
Key:  D

Accordion: Greg Brown

Posted by:  Nunavut
                   Sivuniksavut

Greg runs though two parts quite slowly, and then plays them more quickly.
Key:  D

Accordion:  Greg Brown

​Posted by:  Nunavut
                   Sivuniksavut

Here Greg first runs through two parts quite quickly, and then repeats the parts slowly.
Key:  D


on Guitar: Jerry Lush
Accordionist: Jamie Spurvey

​Posted by:  Jerry Lush

Instrumental - button accordin & guitar

Great video, music & scenery.
Key:   D

Accordion:  Poss Slaney

Posted by:  Newfieposs

Instrumental - button accordion

Great playing by one of NL's finest.
Key:  D

on Accordion:  Harry Hibbs

Posted by:  oldirishladdie

Instrumental - button accordion
Key:  G 

Accordion:  Delmon Reid

Posted by: dellreid

​Instrumental - button accordion
Key:  C

Accordions:  Delmon Reid
      and the late Jack Hynes.

Posted by: kelticknots

Instrumental - button accordion

Filmed on Change Islands in the 1970s.  You can see the members of Ryan's Fancy, as well as Canon George Earle, really enjoying the music.  (And Mr. Reid hasn't changed a bit, has he?)
Key:  C

Accordion Player:  ?

​Posted by:  newfiebob2's channel

Instrumental - button accordion
​
​Played on a Hohner 4 stop HA-114
Key: C

Group:  Fogo Island
             Accordion Group

Members:  Melanie Penton, Heather Penton, Jamie Hancock, Chris King & Aaron Brown.

Posted by: Aaron Brown
​
At Joe Batt's Arm seaside folk festival, 2011.
Key:  C

Accordionist:  Phil Grimes

Posted by:  Ted Grimes

Instrumental - piano accordion

Great job Phil.
Key:  G

Group:  Shanneyganock

Accordionist:  Mark Hiscock

​Posted by:  Shanneyganock - Topic
Key:  G

Performer:   ? 

​Posted by:  My channel

Instrumental - button accordion

A talented young player.
Background Materials, Information & Links
​Lyrics
​& Instrumentals:
      

"Mussels in the Corner" is often played at dances, as a reel, and often without vocals.   However, lyrics help the process of learning a tune, even if they are not "PC".  

​Verse 1:   Above

Verse 2:   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

Instrumental - Part 1 (same tune as verse)
Instrumental - Part 2 (different)

Verse 3:   Dirty shirts and dirty ties
                Dirty rings around their eyes
                Can't get up the morning boys
                Dirty Torbay men

Instrumental - Part 1  (same tune as verse)
Instrumental - Part 2  (different)

Verse 4:  Here they are as white as ghosts
               Baymen in their little boats
               Women in their petticoats
               Bound for Petty Harbour

Instrumental - Part 1  (same tune as verse)
Instrumental - Part 2
Instrumental - Part 1 (same tune as verse)
Background Links:
Click HERE  for additional lyrics.  (wikipedia)