Nova Scotia Archives

Helen Creighton: Folklife

Helen Creighton Audio Reel

00:00:04 - Tarry Trousers Audio Reel: 5028 Recording number: 1 performed by Richard Hartlan at South-East Passage, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: As I rambled out one fine summer's evening to view the fields and take the air — 1943
00:02:25 - Soon We'll be in England town (Chanty song) Audio Reel: 5028 Recording number: 2 performed by Richard Hartlan at South-East Passage, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Soon we'll be in England town — 1943
00:03:45 - Flying Cloud, The Audio Reel: 5028 Recording number: 3 performed by Richard Hartlan at South-East Passage, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Come all you rambling sailor boys and — 1943
00:22:43 - Banks of Newfoundland, The Audio Reel: 5028 Recording number: 4 performed by Richard Hartlan at South-East Passage, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Come all you rakes and rambling boys — 1943
00:26:28 - Carrion Crow, The Audio Reel: 5028 Recording number: 5 performed by Walter Roast at East Chezzetcook, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: A Kangaroo sat on an oak — 1943
00:28:18 - Western Ocean Audio Reel: 5028 Recording number: 6 performed by Richard Hartlan at South-East Passage , Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Oh, I only got one cap, and the crown of it's all gone — 1943
00:30:19 - Banks of Sweet Dundee Audio Reel: 5028 Recording number: 7 performed by Walter Roast at East Chezzetcook, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: It's of a farmer's daughter most beautiful I'm told — 1943
00:04:20 - Dark-Eyed Susan (or Black-Eyed Susan) Audio Reel: 5029 Recording number: 8 performed by Walter Roast at East Chezzetcook, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: All in the downs the fleet lay moored — 1943
00:09:10 - Silvery Tide, The Audio Reel: 5029 Recording number: 9 performed by Walter Roast at East Chezzetcook, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: It's of a fair young maiden — 1943
00:14:22 - Spanish Ladies Audio Reel: 5029 Recording number: 10 performed by Walter Roast at East Chezzetcook, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Here's a health and adieu to you Spanish ladies — 1943
00:17:31 - Stormy Weather Boys Audio Reel: 5029 Recording number: 11 performed by Walter Roast at East Chezzetcook, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Up jumps the eel with his slippery tail — 1943
00:20:56 - Dark Eyed Sailor, The Audio Reel: 5029 Recording number: 12 performed by Walter Roast at East Chezzetcook, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: It's of a comely young lady fair — 1943
00:25:41 - Caroline and Her Young Sailor Bold Audio Reel: 5029 Recording number: 13 performed by Walter Roast at East Chezzetcook, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: There lived a rich nobleman's daughter — 1943
00:30:05 - Willie Audio Reel: 5029 Recording number: 14 performed by Walter Roast at East Chezzetcook, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: It's of a rich merchant in London did dwell — 1943
00:00:01 - Lost Jimmy Whalen Audio Reel: 5030 Recording number: 15 performed by Walter Roast at East Chezzetcook, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Slowly I roamed by the banks of the river — 1943
00:05:44 - Banks of the Nile Audio Reel: 5030 Recording number: 16 performed by Walter Roast at East Chezzetcook, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: O hark I hear the trumpet call — 1943
00:09:47 - Black Cook Audio Reel: 5030 Recording number: 17 performed by Walter Roast at East Chezzetcook, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Come all you good people I hope you will listen — 1943
00:13:33 - Fellow that Looks Like Me Audio Reel: 5030 Recording number: 18 performed by Walter Roast at East Chezzetcook, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: In sad despair I wander — 1943
00:16:57 - Irish Sailor Boy Audio Reel: 5030 Recording number: 19 performed by Walter Roast at East Chezzetcook, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: I was scarcily thirteen years of age — 1943
00:19:22 - I'll Give My Love an Apple Audio Reel: 5030 Recording number: 20 performed by Dennis Smith at East Chezzetcook, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: I'll give my love an apple without e'er a core — 1943
00:22:24 - You Rambling Boys of Pleasure Audio Reel: 5030 Recording number: 21 performed by Dennis Smith at East Chezzetcook, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: You rambling boys of pleasure give ear unto those few lines I write — 1943
00:25:46 - Frank Fidd Audio Reel: 5030 Recording number: 22 performed by Dennis Williams at Musquodoboit Harbour, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Frank Fidd was as gallant as a tar — 1943
00:27:35 - Paddy (or Three English Rovers) Audio Reel: 5030 Recording number: 23 performed by Dennis Williams at Musquodoboit Harbour, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: As three English rovers went driving one day — 1943
00:27:35 - Three English Rovers (or Paddy) Audio Reel: 5030 Recording number: 23 performed by Dennis Williams at Musquodoboit Harbour, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: As three English rovers went driving one day — 1943
00:00:01 - Sweet Sunny South Audio Reel: 5031 Recording number: 24 performed by Dennis Smith at East Chezzetcook, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: In the sweet sunny south there is peace and content — 1943
00:03:27 - Lost Jimmy Whalen Audio Reel: 5031 Recording number: 25 performed by Dennis Smith at East Chezzetcook, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Slowly I rode to the bank of the river — 1943
00:07:47 - Caroline and her Young Sailor Bold Audio Reel: 5031 Recording number: 26 performed by Dennis Smith at East Chezzetcook, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: It's of a rich merchant's daughter — 1943
00:12:00 - My Irish Polly Audio Reel: 5031 Recording number: 27 performed by Dennis Smith at East Chezzetcook, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: As I walked out one morning, oh, down by a riverside — 1943
00:15:53 - Dark-Eyed Sailor Audio Reel: 5031 Recording number: 28 performed by Dennis Smith at East Chezzetcook, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: It's of a charming young lady fair — 1943
00:19:51 - Since Love can Enter an Iron Door Audio Reel: 5031 Recording number: 29 performed by Dennis Smith at East Chezzetcook, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: It's of a maid that's both fair and handsome — 1943
00:24:40 - Brig 'Harmony' Audio Reel: 5031 Recording number: 30 performed by Dennis Smith at East Chezzetcook, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: There was a fine young sea captain — 1943
00:29:04 - Polly Pluck Audio Reel: 5031 Recording number: 31 performed by Mrs. R.W. Duncan at Dartmouth, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Polly Pluck was such a duck — 1943
00:30:12 - Miracle Flower, The Audio Reel: 5031 Recording number: 32 performed by Mrs. Edward Gallagher at Chebucto Head, Halifax County, Nova Scotia — 1943
00:30:33 - Old Man, The Audio Reel: 5031 Recording number: 33 performed by Mrs. Edward Gallagher at Chebucto Head, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: There was an old man came over the lea — 1943
00:32:01 - Broken Ring Song Audio Reel: 5031 Recording number: 34 performed by Mrs. Edward Gallagher at Chebucto Head, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: As a sailor walked all in a garden — 1943
00:00:03 - Peggy Gordon Audio Reel: 5032 Recording number: 35 performed by Dennis Smith at East Chezzetcook, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Oh, Peggy Gordon you are my darling — 1943
00:04:33 - Whiskey in the Jar Audio Reel: 5032 Recording number: 36 performed by Ben Henneberry at Devil's Island, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: As I rode over Kilkenny mountain — 1943
00:08:07 - Rich Counsellor Audio Reel: 5032 Recording number: 37 performed by Ben Henneberry at Devil's Island, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: It's of a rich counsellor here I write — 1943
00:13:51 - Turkish Rover, The Audio Reel: 5032 Recording number: 38 performed by Ben Henneberry at Devil's Island, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: You pretty virgins, I pray draw near — 1943
00:17:33 - Well Sold the Cow Audio Reel: 5032 Recording number: 39 performed by Ben Henneberry at Devil's Island, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Come all ye good people, a story I'll tell — 1943
00:21:50 - Jack Robson Audio Reel: 5032 Recording number: 40 performed by Ben Henneberry at Devil's Island, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: My voyage is over, and home at last — 1943
00:24:33 - Diana and Sweet William Audio Reel: 5032 Recording number: 41 performed by Ben Henneberry at Devil's Island, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: In London fine city, there lived, you might hear — 1943
00:28:49 - Silvy Audio Reel: 5032 Recording number: 42 performed by Ben Henneberry at Devil's Island, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Oh, Silvy, Silvy, all on one day — 1943
00:31:13 - Dark-Eyed Sailor Audio Reel: 5032 Recording number: 43 performed by Ben Henneberry at Devil's Island, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: It was of a comely young lady fair — 1943
00:02:52 - Frog and the Mouse, The Audio Reel: 5033 Recording number: 44 performed by Miss Gordon Etter at Mount Uniacke, Hants County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Froggie would a-wooing go — 1943
00:04:47 - Bingo Audio Reel: 5033 Recording number: 45 performed by Miss Gordon Etter at Mount Uniacke, Hants County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: A farmer had a little black dog and Bingo was his name — 1943
00:05:51 - Knoxville Girl, The Audio Reel: 5033 Recording number: 46 performed by Thomas Richards at Halifax, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: I knew a little girl in Knoxville — 1943
00:08:35 - Peter Rambelay Audio Reel: 5033 Recording number: 47 performed by Richard Hartlan at South-east Passage, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: My name is Peter Rambelay as you may understand — 1943
00:12:14 - Bold Princess Royal Audio Reel: 5033 Recording number: 48 performed by Richard Hartlan at South-east Passage, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: In the fourteenth of February we sailed from the land — 1943
00:16:38 - Old King Coul Audio Reel: 5033 Recording number: 49 performed by Richard Hartlan at South-east Passage, Halifax County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Old King Coul was a merry old soul — 1943

Interested in a particular style of folk song or type of story? Helen often assigned a genre term to her recordings. Choose a genre below to listen.

Acadian Folk song

African Nova Scotian song

Child Ballad [F.J. Child anthology]

Interested in recordings in a particular language? Helen recorded people singing and speaking in multiple languages. Language terms were assigned by Creighton herself. Choose a language below to listen:

Interested in recordings with a particular instrument? Helen recorded people playing and signing with multiple instruments. Instrument solos and/or accompaniment were assigned by Creighton herself. Choose an instrument below to listen:

Read Helen Creighton's recording notes along with archival documentation related to these audio recordings: Mf289-12 PDF Mf289-13 PDF