Nova Scotia Archives

Helen Creighton: Folklife

Helen Creighton Audio Reel 5809

Ruby Were Her Lips

00:00:28 - Legend of the Shubenacadie, The Audio Reel: 5809 Recording number: 3071 performed by Rev. Kennedy Wainwright at Shubenacadie, Hants County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Stranger, beneath this willow's shade — September 1954
00:01:01 - Heave Away Audio Reel: 5809 Recording number: 3072 performed by Ruth Metcalfe at Louisbourg, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Betsy had a baby — 1955
00:02:35 - Old Patriot, The Audio Reel: 5809 Recording number: 3073 performed by Ruth Metcalfe at Louisbourg, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: One day as I was walking — 1955
00:07:59 - Talk on Customs and Songs, Seamen and Midwifery Audio Reel: 5809 Recording number: 3074 performed by Ruth Metcalfe at Louisbourg, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia — 1955
Ruby Were Her Lips Audio Reel: 5809 Recording number: 3075 performed by Ruth Metcalfe at Louisbourg, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Ruby were her lips, — 1955
00:11:15 - Costly Were The Gems Audio Reel: 5809 Recording number: 3076 performed by Ruth Metcalfe at Louisbourg, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Costly were the gems she wore — 1955
00:11:45 - Talk on Father's Singing Audio Reel: 5809 Recording number: 3077 performed by Ruth Metcalfe at Louisbourg, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia — 1955
00:15:55 - Enoch Arden's Farwell Audio Reel: 5809 Recording number: 3078 performed by Ruth Metcalfe at Louisbourg, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Goodbye Annie Darling — 1955
00:18:02 - Fare Thee Well Jean Audio Reel: 5809 Recording number: 3079 performed by Ruth Metcalfe at Louisbourg, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: 'Fare thee well Jean, I'm going to leave you, — 1956
00:21:59 - Green Duccan Audio Reel: 5809 Recording number: 3080 performed by Ruth Metcalfe at Louisbourg, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: And yonder coming my true love I see — 1956
00:22:54 - Jolly Roving Tar, The Audio Reel: 5809 Recording number: 3081 performed by Ruth Metcalfe at Louisbourg, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: Come down unto the riverside, — 1956
00:23:57 - Derby Ram, The Audio Reel: 5809 Recording number: 3082 performed by Ruth Metcalfe at Louisbourg, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: There was a ram in Derby — 1956
00:25:33 - Bung Your Eye Audio Reel: 5809 Recording number: 3083 performed by Ruth Metcalfe at Louisbourg, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia first line of lyric: As Jack was a-walking up Barrington Street — 1956
00:27:21 - Talk on Lullabies and Games Audio Reel: 5809 Recording number: 3084 performed by Ruth Metcalfe at Louisbourg, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia — 1956

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: Mf289-640 PDF Mf289-641 PDF