"Mussels in the Corner"

No personal notes.

Found on the webhttp://www.rainshadowgallery.com/studioB.htm;

"One of the most-recorded dance tunes in Newfoundland, there appears to be no trace of it in print until its publication in Canada Folk Bulletin in 1978. Torbay is a town along the coast a few miles north of St. John's, and you're a Bayman if you live on the coast but not in St. John's."

Here's a link showing the Guiness World Book Record being set; http://www.nlfolk.com/fest2005/accordion.html

Oh, and here's a cool page that talks about the "Historic Colours of Newfoundland" (one of the paint chips is called "Mussels in the Corner"...); http://www.heritagefoundation.ca/docs/historic_paint.pdf

Here's an awesome YouTube video; "While filming in Change Islands Newfoundland Ryan's Fancy and crew meet two marvelous Accordion players at a local house party. mid 70's." Apparently the accordion players are Jack Hynes and Delmon Reid. http://youtube.com/watch?v=UKjoOvVXA9A

And another of the Punter's with a hard-drivin' version; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOt-h2n2uzQ

This is a really bad recording, but you can hear the missing 3rd round... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0MywNr5hzM

From the Digital Tradition;

Mussels in the Corner

Mussels in the Corner

1.  I took Nellie to a ball,
    Nellie wouldn't dance at all
    Nailed her up against the wall,
    Left her there till Sunday.

Chorus
    'Deed I am in love with you
    Out all night in the foggy dew
    'Deed I am in love with you,
    Mussels in the corner.

2.  Ask a bayman for a smoke,
    He will say his pipe is broke
    Ask a bayman for a chew
    He will bite it off for you.

3.  Here they come as thick as flies
    Dirty shirts and dirty ties
    Dirty rings around their eyes
    Dirty old Torbay men.

4.  All the people in Belle Isle
    Don't get up till half past nine
    Wash their face in kerosene ile
    Polly, you're a corker!

5.  Elsie Murray, she's so fine,
    Don't get up til half past nine
    Won't get up to feed the swine
    Dirty Elsie Murray.

6.  Here they come in dirty coats,
    Baymen in their little boats
    Wonder that she ever floats
    Dirty old Torbay men.

JB
                                                 apr96

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!