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T: The Petty Harbour Bait Skiff
O: Trad Newfoundland
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w:Good
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w:peo-ple all, both great and small, I_ hope you will at-tend, And 
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w:lis-ten to these vers_-es few that_ I have late-ly penned._ And
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w:I'll re-late the hard_-ships great that_ fish-er-men must stand, while 
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w:fight-ing for a live-li-hood on the coast of New-found-land.
W:
W:Good people all, both great and small, I hope you will attend,
W:And listen to these verses few that I have lately penned.
W:I'll relate the hardships great that fishermen must stand
W:While fighting for a livelihood on the coast of Newfoundland.
W:
W:It happened to be in the summertime, in the lovely month of June,
W:When fields were green, fair to be seen, and valleys were in bloom.
W:When silent fountains do run clear, caressed by Heaven's rain,
W:And the dewy showers that fall at night to fertilize the plane.
W:
W:We bid adieu unto our friends, and those we hold most dear,
W:Being bound from Petty Harbour, in the springtime of the year.
W:The little birds, as we sailed on, sung o'er the hills and dales,
W:Whilst Flora from her sportive groves, sent forth her pleasant gales.
W:
W:On Saturday we sailed away, being in the evening late,
W:Bound into Conception Bay all for a load of bait.
W:The seagulls flying in the air, and pitching on the shore;
W:But little we thought 'twould be our lot to see our friends no more.
W:
W:The weather being fine we lost no time, until we were homeward bound;
W:The whales were sporting in the deep, and the swordfish swimming 'round;
W:And Luna bright, shone forth that night to illuminate the "say",
W:And the stars shone bright, to guide us right upon our rude pathway.
W:
W:We shook our reefs and trimmed our sails, across the bay did stand;
W:The sun did rise, all circleized, like streamers o'er the land.
W:The clouds lay in the atmosphere, for our destruction met.
W:Boreas blew a heavy squall, our boat was overset.
W:
W:When we came to the "Nor'ad" head, a rainbow did appear,
W:There was every indication that a storm was drawing near,
W:Old Neptune riding on the ways, to windward of us lay,
W:You'd think the ocean was on fire in Petty Harbour Bay.
W:
W:John French was our commander, Mick Sullivan second-hand,
W:And all the rest were brave young men reared up in Newfoundland.
W:Six brave youths, to tell the truth, were buried in the sea,
W:But the Lord preserved young Menshon's life for to live a longer day.
W:
W:Your heart would ache, all for their sake, if you were standing by,
W:To see them drowning, one by one, and no relief being nigh;
W:Struggling with the boisterous waves, all in their youth and bloom,
W:But at last they sank, to rise no more, all on the eighth of June.
W:
W:Jacob Chafe, that hero brave, and champion on that day,
W:They boldly launched their boat with speed, and quickly put to sea.
W:They saved young Menshon from the wreck by their united skill;
W:Their efforts would be all in vain but for kind Heaven's will.
W:
W:Out of that fine young crew, you know, there was one escaped being drowned.
W:He was brought to Petty Harbour where good comforts there he found.
W:He is now on shore, and safe once more, with no cause to complain.
W:He fought old Neptune up and down whilst on the stormy main.
W:
W:When the sad news arrived next day in dear old St. John's town,
W:There was crying and lamenting on the streets both up and down.
W:Their mothers were lamenting, crying for those they bore.
W:On the boisterous waves they found their graves where they ne'er shall see more.
W:
W:Now to conclude and finish these few lines I write in pain:
W:Never depend out of your strength whilst sailing on the main.
W:But put your trust in Providence, observe the Lord's command,
W:And He'll guard you right, both day and night, upon the sea and land.