Three songs from the Maritimes for four part choir was commissioned by Gondwana Voices Limited in 2008. The first performance was given by Gondwana Voices at Futter Hall, King’s School, Parramatta, Sydney on 24 January 2009. The pieces are arrangements of three traditional folksongs from the Atlantic north-east coast of Canada; the Maritimes area has a fantastic folk music tradition drawing on Irish, French and English origins.

© Andrew Schultz, 2008.

1. 1. Carrion Crow

1. A kangaroo sat on an oak,

To my inkum kiddy kum kimo,

Watching a tailor mend a coat,

To my inkum kiddy kum kimo.

Kimineero kiddy kum keero,

Kimineero kimo.

Ba, ba, ba, ba, billy illy inkum,

Inkum kiddy kum kimo.

2. Bring me my arrow and my bow,

‘Til I go shoot that kangaroo,

Refrain

3. The old man fired, he missed his mark,

He shot the old sow through the heart,

Refrain

4. Bring me some ‘lasses in a spoon,

‘Til I go heal that old sow’s wound,

Refrain

5. Oh, now the sow is dead and gone,

Her little ones go waddling on,

Refrain

 

1. 2. Bright Star of Belle Isle

One evening for pleasure I rambled

To view the fair fields all alone,

Down by the banks of Loch Errin

Where beauty and pleasure were known.

I spied a fair maid at her labour,

Which caused me to stay for a while;

I thought her the goddess of beauty,

The Blooming Bright Star of Belle Isle.

“I own you’re the maid I love dearly;

You’ve been on my heart all the while.

For me there is no other damsel

Than my Blooming Bright Star of Belle Isle.”

1. 3. Sable Island Song

On the stormy western ocean,

Just eighty miles from land,

Lies a barren little island

Composed of grass and sand.

You’re chasing crazy horses

From daylight until dark,

Or hunting up wild cattle

By famous Gordeau Park.

Ye go out to pick cranberries

For government men to chew,

And help to buy some salt horse

To feed the lifeboat crew.