SQUID  JIGGIN'  GROUND 

First half of verse 1 = Featured tune (i), Unit 7
Second half of verse 2 = Featured tune (ii)
Composer:  A. R. Scammel 
Accordion Notation
Beats per bar = 3
Beat symbol = Dot ( . ) or equivalent

Either row, low:    Buttons 2* to 6
Verse 1 (of 10)

  .5    |  .6     .3    .3   |   .4         .3*        .3   |   ;5    "5*    .5    |  .5     .4
  Oh,   this   is   the   place   where   the    fish - er - men    ga - ther,   /

​  .3    |  .4*     .4*       .4*  |   .4         .5        .4    |    .3*      .4        .5     |  :5*~
With    oil - skins   and   boots   and   Cape    Anns   bat - tened    down.  /

 .6*   |  .6    .6     .6   |  .6      .6*      .5*  |    .5         .5*      .5   |  "5    ;4
All       si - zes   of     fig - ures   with   squid   lines   and    jig - gers,   /

   .3    |   .3      .4       .5   |   .5      .4*   .3*  |   .3*      .3     .2*  |     :3~
They    con - gre - gate   here   on   the   squid   jig - gin'   ground.   /

Four of the remaining nine verses are below the youTube videos on this page.

Embedded youTube VIDEOS

Key:  C  

Tempo:  ~145 bpm (a lively waltz).

Singer:  A. R. Scammel

Posted by:  vinyhilist​

This 1942-43 record of his singing closely matches the accordion note arrangement above; however Mr. Scammel held the first note on line pairs 1 and 3, and the final note on line pairs 2 and 4 longer than indicated above.

It has been suggested that he adapted his lyrics to an Irish fiddle tune Larry O'Gaffe, a jig in two parts.  However, It is probable that he used some of the first part of that jig for his melody, but changed it from 6/8 jig time to a lively 3/4 time waltz, and also made a few note changes, giving it a different feel from the original jig.


Key:  C 

Tempo:  ~160 bpm

​Posted by:  christine H

I must confess that this is my favorite performances of this song.  I'm not sure who is playing the accordion, but I believe it is from the the CD sponsored by the Children's Wish Foundation for, and featuring, 11 year-old Mark Bellows of Corner Brook (who sadly passed away a few months later in 2006).   At the 2009 ECMA ceremonies, Mark received a special tribute in recognition of his accordion playing and the CD of his favorite accordion music.  Mark was the nephew of one of the Province's top accordion players, Ben Bellows.
Although lobster fishing is not at all like squid jigging, the music still seems quite appropriate, and the scenery is fantastic.
Key:  G

Tempo:  ~ 175 bpm

Singer:  Dick Nolan

​Posted by:  quickaccent2006
Key:  F

Tempo:  ~ 150 bpm

Group:  The Squid Jiggers

Posted by:  #ThekSquidJiggers
Key:  D
 
Tempo: ~190 bpm
​             (a very lively waltz).

Singer:  Harry Hibbs,

Accordion player: Harry Hibbs

​Posted by:  UndiscMusic
The late Harry Hibbs was, in my view, the most talented button accordion player (in a field of many truly outstanding players) to ever come out of Newfoundland and Labrador, though he didn't become a household name until he moved to Ontario and started playing the various "Newfoundland" clubs and on local TV in the Toronto-Hamilton-Cambridge region.   The growing popularity of this instrument in this Province over the past five decades owes a great deal to Harry Hibbs.
Key:  D

Tempo:  ~ 195 bpm

Player:  Mary ?

Posted by:  labradornl
Key of D 
​
Tempo ~160 bpm.

Group:  Ryan's Fancy 

Posted by:  kelticknots

This performance contains five of the ten original verses.
Key:  D

Tempo:  ~ 160 bpm

Player:  Poss Slaney

​Posted by:  Newfieposs
Key:  D

Tempo: ~ 165 bpm

Group:  Shanneyganock

Accordion & Singing:  Mark Hiscock

​Posted by:  Don Shorock's Channel




​
Background Information and Links


​Five (of 10)
​Verses:


​Oh, this is the place where the fishermen gather,  
With oilskins and boots and Cape Anns battened down.
All sizes of figures with squid lines and jiggers,  
They congregate here on the squid-jiggin' ground.

Some are workin' their jiggers, while others are yarnin', 
There's some standin' up and there's more lyin' down.
While all kinds of fun, jokes and tricks are begun  
As they wait for the squid on the squid-jiggin' ground.

God bless my sou'wester, there's skipper John Chaffey.  
He's the best hand at squid-jiggin' here, I'll be bound,
Hello! what's the row?  Why, he's jiggin' one now,  
The very first squid on the squid-jiggin' ground.

There's poor uncle Billy, his whiskers are spattered   
With spots of the squid juice that's flyin' around;
One poor little boy got it right in the eye,  
But they don't give a darn on the squid-jiggin' ground.

Now if ever you feel inclined to go squiddin', 
Leave your white shirts and collars behind in the town,
And if you get cranky, without yer silk hanky, 
You'd better stay clear of the squid-jiggin' ​ground.
The other five verses (in different orders) may be found in many sources, but three 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.
  • Catch ahold this One: Songs of Newfoundland and Labrador Volume 1 (Edited and arranged by Eric West, with notes on the songs by Neil V. Rosenberg, and music editing by Sheilah Hewlett and Anne Devine , Published by Vinland Music (2002) - Fifth Edition (2012).  This is the first 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.
  • Wikipedia  -  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squid-Jiggin%27_Ground

Terms
Defined:
Cape Ann:  An oil-skin water-proof head covering (somewhat like a hat or cap)
Squid-jigger:  A series of small hooks attached to a short (6 cm or so) red-colored shaft.
Squid-juice:  An inky-black liquid squirted for protection, frequently when being pulled out of water.

Brief Biography:
 Arthur Scammell (1913-95) wrote the Squid Jiggin' Ground as a school project when a 15 year old in Change Islands.  It is believed that he adapted his own lyrics to the first part of an Irish fiddle tune Larry O' Gaffe, with some note changes.  He became a school teacher (first in outport Newfoundland and later in Montreal) and a writer of songs, poetry and prose.  He retired to St. John's, where he passed away in August of 1995.  His many recognitions included an honorary LLD from Memorial University in 1977, and an appointment to the Order of Canada in 1987.

In 2011 Squid Jiggin' Ground was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters' Hall of Fame.  This was one of several recordings he made privately under the RCA label in 1942-43; it is believed that between 15000 and 20000 of these records were sold.