Banks of Newfoundland
Siobhan Miller Lyrics
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When you're working on a packet-ship, no dungaree oil skins wear
But have a big monkey jacket already at your command
And we'll bid fareweel to the Virgin
Rocks on the Banks of the Newfoundland
We will rub around and scrub around
Wi'holy stone and sand
On te banks of Newfoundland
As I lay on my bunk one night a-dreaming all alone
I dreamt I was in Liverpool 'way up by Marylebone
With my true love there beside of me and a jug of ale in my hand
Ah, but I woke quite brokenhearted by the Banks of Newfoundland
We will rub around and scrub around
Wi'holy stone and sand
And we'll bid fareweel to the Virgin Rocks
On te banks of Newfoundland
We had one female passenger, Bridget Riley was her name
She was fourteen years transported boys for playing not the game
But she tore up her flannel petticoats to make mittens for our hands
For she could not see the poor boys
Freeze on the Banks of Newfoundland
We will rub around and scrub around
Wi'holy stone and sand
And we'll bid fareweel to the Virgin Rocks
On te banks of newfoundland
And we're off Sandy Hook,
My boys and the land is all covered with snow
And the tug-boat take up our hawser and for New York 't will tow
And when we get to the Black Ball dock
All the boys and the girls there will stand
For if we are here we cannot be there on the Banks of Newfoundland
We will rub around and scrub around
Wi'holy stone and sand
And we'll bid fareweel to the Virgin Rocks
On te banks of Newfoundland
We will rub around and scrub around
Wi'holy stone and sand
And we'll bid fareweel to the Virgin Rocks
On te banks of Newfoundland
The song "Banks of Newfoundland" by Siobhan Miller is a tribute to the Western Ocean labourers who worked on the packet-ships between Liverpool and New York in the 19th century. The song opens with a warning for the labourers to be careful when working on the dangerous high seas, cautioning them to wear a monkey jacket instead of oilskins. The lyrics then shift to the labor-intensive work involved in cleaning the ship.
The singer of the song is a dreamer, who longs for the comforts of home, and imagines himself in Liverpool, with his true love and ale by his side. However, the harsh reality of life on the sea breaks his dream, leaving him heartbroken. The song also highlights the plight of Bridget Riley, a young girl on the ship who had been arrested for trivial infractions, and who used her clothes to keep the labourers warm.
The song ultimately ends on a hopeful note, as the ship reaches the Black Ball dock, and the boys and girls there eagerly await their return. The repetition of the phrase "we will rub around and scrub around" shows the determination and spirit of the labourers who never give up, despite the harsh conditions they face.
Line by Line Meaning
You Western Ocean labourers I'll have you all beware
Listen up, all ye workers on the Western Ocean, I have a warning for you
When you're working on a packet-ship, no dungaree oil skins wear
If you're working on a packet-ship, don't wear dungarees or oil skins
But have a big monkey jacket already at your command
Instead, have a big monkey jacket ready to wear
And we'll bid fareweel to the Virgin
Rocks on the Banks of the Newfoundland
And we'll say goodbye to the Virgin Rocks on the banks of Newfoundland
We will rub around and scrub around
Wi'holy stone and sand
We'll work hard and tirelessly, scrubbing the ship with holy stone and sand
As I lay on my bunk one night a-dreaming all alone
One night, as I lay alone in my bunk and drifted off to sleep
I dreamt I was in Liverpool 'way up by Marylebone
I had a dream that I was in Liverpool, near Marylebone
With my true love there beside of me and a jug of ale in my hand
In my dream, my beloved was with me, and I had a jug of ale in my hand
Ah, but I woke quite brokenhearted by the Banks of Newfoundland
But then I woke up feeling heartbroken, still on the Banks of Newfoundland
We had one female passenger, Bridget Riley was her name
On our ship, we had one female passenger named Bridget Riley
She was fourteen years transported boys for playing not the game
She had been sent away for fourteen years for encouraging boys to misbehave
But she tore up her flannel petticoats to make mittens for our hands
Despite that, she was kind enough to tear up her flannel petticoats into mittens for us
For she could not see the poor boys
Freeze on the Banks of Newfoundland
Because she couldn't bear to see the poor boys freeze on the Banks of Newfoundland
And we're off Sandy Hook,
My boys and the land is all covered with snow
We're leaving Sandy Hook behind as the land is all covered in snow
And the tug-boat take up our hawser and for New York 't will tow
A tug-boat comes to take our hawser and tow us towards New York
And when we get to the Black Ball dock
All the boys and the girls there will stand
Once we reach the Black Ball dock, all the boys and girls will be waiting for us
For if we are here we cannot be there on the Banks of Newfoundland
Because if we're here, we can't be on the Banks of Newfoundland anymore
Writer(s): Aaron Jones, Euan Burton, Louis Abbott, Siobhan Miller, Traditional
Contributed by Reagan W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.