Back Bay Hill

DESCRIPTION: The singer meets a girl "tripping and slipping down (Back Bay Hill)." They are married the next day. They have three children; during a disagreement about names, the father insists the child be named after the hill! He advises others to visit the place
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1932 (Creighton-Nova Scotia)
KEYWORDS: courting children
FOUND IN: Canada(Mar,Newf)
REFERENCES (4 citations):
Fowke/Johnston-FolkSongsOfCanada, pp. 164-165, "Citadel Hill" (1 text, 1 tune)
Blondahl-NewfoundlandersSing, p. 107, "Sig-i-nal Hill" (1 text, 1 tune)
Creighton-SongsAndBalladsFromNovaScotia 101, "Back Bay Hill" (1 text, 1 tune)
Pottie/Ellis-FolksongsOfTheMaritimes, pp. 132-133, "Cidadel Hill" (1 text, 1 tune)
ST FJ165 (Partial)
Roud #1811
NOTES [125 words]: Creighton reports, "[Informan Frank Faulkner] learned this song while sealing in 1902.... The name Back Bay may be changed to any hill in the place where the song is sung." - RBW
Blondahl-NewfoundlandersSing: "Signal Hill, St John's, is famed for many deeds (and mis-deeds) which have taken place over the past three or four centuries." - BS
We can say a little more about Signal Hill, the Newfoundland site for this song. It is a high point above "The Narrows" at the entrance to St. John's Harbour; it was used for signals from or about ships, and was visible throughout the area, so little surprise if people went, er, sightseeing there. There is actually a spot called "Cuckold's Cove" near the spot. SIgnal Hill is now a Newfoundlan historic site.
Last updated in version 5.0
File: FJ165

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