The Ferryland Sealer
Sealing Adventure: Journey to the Ice and Triumph of the William and the Nancy
Lyrics
Oh our schooner and our sloop in Ferryland they do lie.
Refers to the schooner and sloop in Ferryland, positioned and prepared for an ice-bound journey.
They are already rigged to be bound for the ice,
The vessels are already equipped and ready for the icy expedition.
All you lads of the Southern we will have you be aware
A warning to the Southern lads about the upcoming ice-bound trip.
She is going to the ice in the spring of the year.
The schooner is heading to the ice in the spring of the year.
Laddie whack fall the laddie, laddie whack fall the day.
Repetitive refrain, possibly expressing the physical effort or rhythm of work.
We had vittles for to last more than two months at the least,
Provisions are stocked for over two months with ample rum stored.
And plenty of good rum, boys, stowed away in our chest,
A mention of the abundance of rum stored in the chest.
We will give her a rally for to praise all our fency,
A rallying call to celebrate their well-provisioned journey.
All our seals will be collected by the William and the Nancy.
Seals will be collected by the ships William and the Nancy.
Our course be east-north-east two days and two nights,
The course is east-north-east for two days and nights.
Out captain he cried out, "Boys, look ahead for the ice!"
The captain alerts the crew to the presence of ice ahead.
And we hove her about standing in for the land,
The ship changes course and approaches the land.
And 'twas in a few hours we were firm in the jam.
Quickly, they find themselves trapped in the ice jam.
Oh our captain he cried out, "Come on, boys, and bear a'hand.
The captain urges the crew to act quickly.
Our cook he gets the breakfast and each man takes a dram,
Roles are assigned, with the cook preparing breakfast and men taking a drink.
With their bats in their hands it was earlye to go,
Preparation with bats in hand to confront the challenges.
Every man showed his action 'thout the missing of a blow.
Each man demonstrates his skill without missing a beat.
Some were killing some were scalping, some were hauling on board
Different activities on the ice, including killing, scalping, and hauling on board.
And some more they were firing and a-missing of their loads.
Some firing and missing of their loads in the chaotic scene.
In the dusk of the evening all hands in from the cold,
As evening falls, everyone returns from the cold.
And we counted nine hundred fine scalps in the hold.
Nine hundred scalps are counted in the hold.
Oh now we are loaded and our schooner she is sound,
The ship is loaded, and the schooner is in good condition.
And the ice it is open and to Ferryland we're bound,
The ice is open, and they are heading back to Ferryland.
We all gave her a rally for to praise all our fancy,
A rallying call again for their successful venture.
Our seals they were collected by the William and the Nancy.
The seals were collected by the ships William and the Nancy.
We are now off Cape Spear and in sight of Cape Broyle,
The ship is off Cape Spear and in sight of Cape Broyle.
We will dance, sing, carouse, my boys, in just a little while,
Anticipation of celebration – dancing, singing, and carousing.
We will soon enjoy the charms of our sweethearts and friends
The prospect of enjoying the company of sweethearts and friends soon.
For it will not be long before we're down to the bend.
It won't be long before reaching the destination or bend.
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