Nova Scotia Archives

Helen Creighton: Folklife

Helen Creighton Audio Reel 5150

On A Lonely Isle

00:00:11 - Captain Wedderburn's Courtship Audio Reel: 5150 Recording number: 1225 performed by Ralph Huskins at Cape Sable Island, Shelburne County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Three questions I will give to you — 19 July 1949
On A Lonely Isle Audio Reel: 5150 Recording number: 1226 performed by Ralph Huskins and Earl Smith at Cape Sable Island, Shelburne County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: On a lonely isle far out to sea — 19 July 1949
00:04:47 - Balm o' Gilead Audio Reel: 5150 Recording number: 1227 performed by Evelyn Swim and Earl Smith at Cape Sable Island, Shelburne County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: I put my right hand in — 24 July 1949
00:08:01 - Drowsy Sleeper (Willie) Audio Reel: 5150 Recording number: 1228 performed by Evelyn Swim at Cape Sable Island, Shelburne County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Pray who is at my bedroom window — 22 July 1949
00:11:58 - Rosy In The Garden Audio Reel: 5150 Recording number: 1229 performed by Earl Smith at Cape Sable Island, Shelburne County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: There's a rosy in the garden for you young man — 24 July 1949
00:13:25 - Brother Jones Audio Reel: 5150 Recording number: 1230 performed by Earl Smith at Cape Sable Island, Shelburne County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Are you sleeping, are you sleeping — 24 July 1949
00:14:11 - Scotland's Burning Audio Reel: 5150 Recording number: 1231 performed by Earl Smith at Cape Sable Island, Shelburne County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Scotland's burning, Scotland's burning — 24 July 1949
00:14:44 - Row Row Row Your Boat Audio Reel: 5150 Recording number: 1232 performed by Earl Smith at Cape Sable Island, Shelburne County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Row row row your boat — 24 July 1949
00:15:14 - Fallen Leaf Audio Reel: 5150 Recording number: 1233 performed by Earl Smith at Cape Sable Island, Shelburne County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Far across the wild [prairie] — 24 July 1949
00:18:16 - Molly Darling Audio Reel: 5150 Recording number: 1234 performed by Evelyn Swim at Cape Sable Island, Shelburne County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Won't you tell me Molly darling — 25 July 1949
00:22:08 - Lazy Sal Audio Reel: 5150 Recording number: 1235 performed by Evelyn Swim and Earl Smith at Cape Sable Island, Shelburne County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Lazy Sal will you get up — 24 July 1949
00:24:27 - Little Birdie In The Tree Audio Reel: 5150 Recording number: 1236 performed by Evelyn Swim at Cape Sable Island, Shelburne County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Sing about the roses — 23 July 1949
00:25:15 - Oh Where Are You Going Pretty Bird Audio Reel: 5150 Recording number: 1237 performed by Evelyn Swim at Cape Sable Island, Shelburne County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Oh where are you going pretty bird — 24 July 1949
00:27:28 - Where Now Is The Lazy Scholar Audio Reel: 5150 Recording number: 1238 performed by Evelyn Swim at Cape Sable Island, Shelburne County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Where now is the lazy scholar — 24 July 1949
00:29:02 - Little Birdie In The Tree Audio Reel: 5150 Recording number: 1239 performed by Earl Smith at Cape Sable Island, Shelburne County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Sing about the roses — 24 July 1949

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: Mf289-244 PDF Mf289-245 PDF