Harbour Le Cou

DESCRIPTION: "As I rowed ashore from my schooner close by, A girl on the beach I chanced to espy" who lives in Harbour Le Cou. The sailor courts and wins girl until they meet his "old comrade" who sends "regards to your missus and wee kiddies two"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1951 (Fowke/MacMillan-PenguinBookOfCanadianFolkSongs; MUNFLA/Leach)
LONG DESCRIPTION: A sailor takes up with a girl in Harbour Le Cou, but has his amorous plans thwarted by a ship-mate who inquires (within hearing of the girl) about the health of the sailor's wife and children. The girl tears into the sailor and he flees, warning others to beware not only of pretty girls but also of old comrades.
KEYWORDS: courting infidelity seduction separation humorous children husband sailor
FOUND IN: Canada(Mar,Newf)
REFERENCES (6 citations):
Peacock, pp. 198-199, "Harbour Le Cou" (1 text, 1 tune)
Doyle-OldTimeSongsAndPoetryOfNewfoundland, "Harbour Le Cou" (1 text, 1 tune): p. 26 in the 3rd edition, p. 31 in the 4th, p. 23 in the 5th
Fowke/MacMillan-PenguinBookOfCanadianFolkSongs 56, "Harbour Le Cou" (1 text, 1 tune)
Blondahl-NewfoundlandersSing, pp. 108-109, "Harbour Le Cou" (1 text, 1 tune)
Mills-FavoriteSongsOfNewfoundland, pp. 32-33, "Harbour Le Cou" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, HARBLCOU*
Roud #7297
RECORDINGS:
Mrs. Peter Mushrow, "Harbour Le Cou" (on MUNFLA/Leach)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "One Morning in May (To Hear the Nightingale Sing) [Laws P14]" (theme)
NOTES [36 words]: Harbour Le Cou is a fishing village on the southwest coast of Newfoundland near Port aus Basques. - SL
Also apparently collected from Harry Mercer of Newfoundland; see Cox-FolkMusicInANewfoundlandOutport, p. 189. - RBW
Last updated in version 6.0
File: Doyl3026

Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Song List

Go to the Ballad Index Instructions
Go to the Ballad Index Bibliography or Discography