Great Big Sea Album

(written by N. Holder / J. Lea)
Originanlly performed by Slade

1-2-3-4
I like black and white
Dream in black in white
You like black and white
Run runaway

CHORUS:
See chameleon lying there in the sun
All things to everyone
Run runaway

If your in the swing
Money ain't everything
If your in the swing
Run runaway

CHORUS, let's go

If you got it sussed
Don't beat around the bush
If you got it sussed
Run runaway

CHORUS (x2)

-- Whistle Solo

2-3-4
Oh now can't you wait?
No, no come on and wait
Oh now can't you wait?
Run runaway

CHORUS

I like black and white
Dream in black in white
You like black and white
Run runaway

(written by Alan Doyle)

Well come gather all around me
There is something you should know
There is no place quite like this place
If we get it on the go

So, pile your boots up in the corner
Hang your jacket from the door
There's thirty people in the kitchen
And there's always room for more

CHORUS:

Oh-oh-oh, come on now
Let's lock the world outside
Oh-oh-oh, come on I tell you now
She's goin up tonight

Well there'll be music all around you
You should see the way it feels
So come on off we go now
Heel and toe now
To the jigs and reels

'Cause somebody's got a fiddle
And someone else brought a guitar
And we got Bobby on the squeezebox
Grab a chair and raise a jar

CHORUS

Guitar/Accordion

CHORUS

Well there'll be smilin', there'll be laughin'
Well that's good enough for me
There'll be dancing all around you
This is where you want to be

So, pile your boots up in the corner
Hang your jacket from the door
There's thirty people in the kitchen
And there's always room, yes there's always room...

(written by Alan Doyle)

From the first hello you gave to me
I've done nothing else but smile
And I know you're in a hurry
Ah, but its gonna take a while.
So forgive me if we go slow,
But there's something I think you should know...

CHORUS:
I'm goin' fast as I can, please don't make me rush
This feeling's coming on way too fast
I'll tell you all of the things that you'll never forget
But I'm not ready say "I love you" yet
I'm not ready to say "I love you" yet.

-- Whistle Solo

Don't push me in too deep,
I've always been the fool who rushes in.
You've got to take the pieces one-by-one before you've got everything.
So forgive me if we go slow,
But there's something I think you should know...

CHORUS

Oh, there'll be times when I'm mistaken
And there'll be times when we're gonna fight
But you needn't doubt, we can work it out
And in time we'll get it right.
So forgive me if we go slow,
But there's something I think you should know...

CHORUS (x2)

(Traditional - Arr. GBS)

There's a neat little lass and her name is Mari-Mac
Make no mistake, she's the girl I'm gonna attract
Lot of other fellas try to get her on her back
But I'm thinking that they'll have to get up early

CHORUS:
Mari-Mac's mother's making Mari-Mac marry me
My mother's making me marry Mari-Mac
Well I'm going to marry Mari for when Mari's taking care of me
We'll all be feeling merry when I marry Mari-Mac

Now, Mari and her mother are an awful lot together
In fact you hardly see the one without the other
And people often wonder if it's Mari or her mother
Or both of them together I am courting

CHORUS

Well, up among the heather in the hills of Bonifee
Well, I had a bonnie lass sitting on me knee
A bumble bee stung me right above me knee
Up among the heather in the hills of Benifee

CHORUS

Well, I said, "Wee bonnie lassie, where you going to spend the day?"
She said, "Among the heather in the hills of Benifee"
Where all the boys and girls are making out so free
Up among the heather in the hills of Benifee

CHORUS

The wedding's on a Wednesday, everything's arranged
Soon her name will be changed to mine unless her mind be changed
And making the arrangements, I'm feeling quite deranged
Marriage is an awful undertaking

CHORUS

Sure to be a grand affair, grander than a fair
Going to be a fork and plate for every man that's there
And I'll be a bugger if I don't get my share
If I don't, we'll be very much mistaken

CHORUS

There's a neat little lass and her name is Mari-Mac
Make no mistake, she's the girl I'm gonna track
Lot of other fellas try to get up on her back
I'm thinking that they'll have to get up early

(written by Séan McCann)

I'm sorry if I ruined your day
I really hope that you understand
I'm a million miles away
Looking for a place to land

My father phoned me yesterday
your time has come, well done my son
tried to think of what to say
when words can heed already gone

CHORUS:
I don't know how I got here
there must be something to it
I think I need some time alone
to work my way through it

the moon is in the sky tonight
not very warm but it sheds some light
ask me now and I just might
let the morning come and tell me if its right

CHORUS

soon initial bliss will pass
this precious time might be your last
Like dew upon the morning grass,
good intentions can vanish with the sun

I'm sorry if i ruined your day
I really hope that you understand
I'm a million miles away
looking for a place to land
I'm a million miles away

(written by Hallett / McCann)

Stayed awake for hours again last night.
Just searching for the reason to keep up the fight.
I've made choices I don't regret.
I've got problems I don't get.

I didn't want to carry the heavier load
You can't always take the middle road
There comes a time when you make up your mind
And the point get left behind

CHORUS:
Oh lets wait one more day for the conversation
One more day to make it right
Lets get away from the confrontation
One more day just buying time

For years and years you can drift alone
And write another verse to an endless song
Wait one more day till the time is right
Hoping that you both see the light
You won't see the light!

CHORUS

I'm not afraid to sleep alone
I'm not afraid to be alone.
Stayed awake for hours again last night
Searching for the reason to keep up the fight.
I've made choices I don't regret
I've got problems and problems and problems.

(Traditional - Arr. GBS)

Well, ol' Lukey's boat is painted green,
Ha, me boys!
Lukey's boat is painted green,
The prettiest boat that you've ever seen,
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!

Well, ol' Lukey's boat's got a fine fore cutty,
Ha, me boys!
Lukey's boat's got a fine fore cutty,
And every seam is chinked with putty,
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!

Well I says, "Lukey the blinds are down"
Ha, me boys!
I says, "Lukey the blinds are down"
"Me wife is dead and she's underground"
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!

Well I says, "Lukey I don't care"
Ha, me boys!
I says, "Lukey I don't care"
"I'll get me another in the spring of the year"
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!

Well, ol' Lukey's rolling out his grub,
Ha, me boys!
Lukey's rolling out his grub,
One split pea, and a ten pound tub,
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!

Well, Lukey's boat's got high-topped sails,
Ha, me boys!
Lukey's boat's got high-topped sails,
The sheet was planched with copper nails,
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!

Lukey's boat is painted green,
Ha, me boys!
Lukey's boat is painted green,
It's the prettiest boat that you've ever seen,
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!

(written by Bob Hallett / Based on traditional Irish)

I drank sixteen doubles for the price of one
Tryin' to find the courage to talk to one
I asked her for a dance, not a second glance
My night had just begun

Well, I drink to the Father and the Holy Ghost
I'm kneeling at the alter of my nightly post
So I'll raise a glass, not the first or last
Come join me in this toast

CHORUS:
Because the old black rum's got a hold on me
Like a dog wrapped 'round my leg
And the old black rum's got a hold on me
Will I live for another day?
Hey! Will I live for another day?

The queen of George Street just went walkin' by
Walkin' on by with some guy who don't care
That she stood in line since half past nine
And spent three hours on her hair

Well, her friend is lookin' at me with an evil grin
I think a bloody racket might soon begin
I must have said something to the George Street queen
Now the boys are joining in.

CHORUS

So I drank all of my money and I slept out in the rain
Every day is different, but the nights they're all the same
You never see the sun on the old black rum
But I know I'm gonna do it again!

CHORUS (x2)

(written by Ron Angel)

CHORUS:
And its go boys go
They'll time your every breath
And every day you're in this place your two days nearer death
But you go ...

Well, a process man am I and I am tellin' you no lie
I work and breathe among the fumes that tread across the sky
There's thunder all around me and there's poison in the air
There's a lousy smell that smacks of hell and dust all in me hair

CHORUS

Well, I've worked among the spitters and I breathe the oily smoke
I've shovelled up the gypsum and it neigh 'on makes you choke
I've stood knee deep cyanide, got sick with a caustic burn
Been working rough, I've seen enough to make your stomach turn

CHORUS

There's overtime and bonus opportunities galore
The young men like their money and they all come back for more
But soon your knocking on and you look older than you should
For every bob made on the job, you pay with flesh and blood

CHORUS

Well, a process man am I and I am telling you no lie
I work and breathe among the fumes that tread across the sky
There's thunder all around me and there's poison in the air
There's a lousy smell that smacks of hell and dust all in me hair

(written by J. Payne / J. Spence)

Oh me name's Able Rodgers, a share man am I
On a three masted schooner from Twillingate Isle
I've been the world over north, south, east, and west
But the middle of nowhere's where I likes it best

CHORUS:
Where its wave over wave, sea over bow
I'm as happy a man as the sea will allow
There's no other life for a sailor like me
And to sail the salt sea boys, sail the sea
There's no other life but to sail the salt sea

Well I leave my wife lonely ten months of the year
For she built me a home and raised my children there
She never come out to bid farewell to me
Or ken why a sailor must sail the salt sea

CHORUS

Ah, the work it is hard and the hours are long
But my spirit is willing, my back it is strong
And when the works over the whisky will pour
We'll dance with the girls upon some foreign shore

I've sailed the world over for decades or more
And oft' times I wonder what I do it for
I don't know the answer its pleasure and pain
But with life to live over I'd do it again

(Traditional - Arr. GBS)

Billy Peddle, Billy Peddle did you see Tom White?
Billy Peddle, Billy Peddle did you see Tom White?
Billy Peddle, Billy Peddle did you see Tom White?
Gone around the harbour gonna stay all night

Gone around the harbour gonna get a dozen beer
Gone around the harbour gonna get away from here
Gone around the harbour gonna have a cup of tea

(written by Séan McCann)

I left my home, my family by the ocean
Out on my own, to seek my fortune
There's no work to occupy these young hands
So look out boy! Your heading for the mainland!

CHORUS:
And what do you do? Can't make nothing out of nothing
Everybody needs a start
And what do you do? Can't make nothing out of nothing
Give my country back its heart

Now I was born on a St. John's street
Where all my hopes could meet with defeat
I hired my days to higher education
No I'm so smart I could rule this comdenation

CHORUS

No I'm alone but I'm working everyday
I'm getting stoned and blowing all my pay
Just to survive I'll do whatever I can
No I'm alive, but I cannot be a real man

(Traditional - Arr. GBS)

CHORUS:
Oh, won't you come along with me love
Come along with me!
Come for one night and be my wife
And come along with me

Well, it is of the jolly butcher as you might plainly see
As he roved out one morning in search of company
He went into a tavern and a fair girl he did see
Ah, come for one night, be my wife, oh come along with me

He called for liquor of the best
And he makes such fortune play
Come have a drink, it will make us think
That it is our wedding day

CHORUS

Well he called for a candle to light their way to bed
And when he had her in the room these words to her he said,
"A sovereign I will give to you, for to embrace your charms"
And all that night, that fair young maid, lied in the butchers' arms

CHORUS

Oh, Early the next morning be sure it went his way
He looked unto that fair young maid and unto her did say,
"That sovereign that I gave to you, do not think me strange,
Well that sovereign that I gave to you will you give me back me change!"

CHORUS

Well about a twelve months later he roved out once more
And he went into the tavern where he'd often been before
He wasn't in there very long when his fair maid he did see
And she brought forth a baby three months old and placed it on his knee

When he saw the baby, he began to curse and swear
And he said unto that fair young maid, "Why did you bring him here?!"
"Well, he is your own, kind sir", she said, "Do not think me strange,
Well, that sovereign that you gave to me, I gives you back your change!!"

(Traditional - Arr. GBS)

CHORUS:
We'll rant and we'll roar like true Newfoundlanders
We'll rant and we'll roar on deck and below
Until we strikes bottom inside the two sunkers
When straight through the channel to Toslow we'll go

I'm a son of a sea-cook, I'm a cook in a trader;
I can dance, I can sing, I can reef the main boom,
I can handle a jigger, I cuts a fine figure
Whenever I gets in a boat's standing room

CHORUS

Farewell and adieu to ye young maids of Valen,
Oderin and Presque, Fox Hole and Bruley
I'm bound for the westward to the wall with the hole in
I can't marry all, or in chokey I'll be