Nova Scotia Archives

Helen Creighton: Folklife

Helen Creighton Audio Reel 5676

Common Bill

00:00:03 - Crockery Ware Audio Reel: 5676 Recording number: 2451 performed by Will McQueen at Tatamagouche, Colchester County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Oh in Bristol town a man did dwell — August 1953
00:03:00 - Old Maid of Fifty-Three Audio Reel: 5676 Recording number: 2452 performed by Will McQueen at Tatamagouche, Colchester County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: When I was a maiden of Eighteen years — August 1953
Common Bill Audio Reel: 5676 Recording number: 2453 performed by Mary Bailey at Tatamagouche, Colchester County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: I will tell you of a fellow, of a fellow I have seen — August 1953
00:07:33 - McCarthy's Song Audio Reel: 5676 Recording number: 2454 performed by Neil O’Brien at Pictou, Pictou County, Nova Scotia — August 1953
00:12:16 - Nancy's Courtship Audio Reel: 5676 Recording number: 2455 performed by Neil O’Brien at Pictou, Pictou County, Nova Scotia — September 1953
00:16:16 - Broken Ring Song Audio Reel: 5676 Recording number: 2456 performed by Neil O’Brien at Pictou, Pictou County, Nova Scotia — September 1953
00:17:11 - It's Nice to be a Father Audio Reel: 5676 Recording number: 2457 performed by Neil O’Brien at Pictou, Pictou County, Nova Scotia — September 1953
00:18:36 - John Martin Duffy Audio Reel: 5676 Recording number: 2458 performed by Neil O’BrienPictou County, Nova Scotia at John Martin Duffy was judge of a court — September 1953
00:21:15 - Drowsy Sleeper Audio Reel: 5676 Recording number: 2459 performed by Greta Heighton at River John, Pictou County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Who is at my bedroom window — September 1953
00:24:15 - Chippewa Stream Audio Reel: 5676 Recording number: 2460 performed by Greta Heighton at River John, Pictou County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: As I went a-walking one evening in June — September 1953
00:27:22 - Broken Ring Audio Reel: 5676 Recording number: 2461 performed by Greta Heighton at River John, Pictou County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: A maid was walking in her garden — September 1953

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: Mf289-524 PDF Mf289-525 PDF