The Banks Of Newfoundland
(Traditional)



On St. Patrick's Day, the seventeenth, from New York we set sail
Kind fortune did favour us wi' a sweet and a pleasant gale
We bore away from Americay, the wind bein' off the land
And wi' courage brave we ploughed the wave bound down for Newfoundland

Our Captain's name was Nelson just twenty years of age
As true and brave a sailor lad as ever ploughed the wave
The Eveline our brig was called belonging to McLean
And wi' courage brave we ploughed the wave bound down for Newfoundland

When three days out to our surprise our Captain he fell sick
He shortly was not able to take his turn on deck
The fever raged which made us think that death was near at hand
So we bore away from Halifax bound down for Newfoundland

At three o'clock we sighted a light that we were glad to see
The small-pox bein' ragin', that's what it proved to be
At four o'clock in the afternoon, as sure as God's command
He passed away in Arichat bound down for Newfoundland

All that night long we did lament for our departed friend
And we were prayin' unto God for what had been his end
We prayed that God would guide us and keep us by his hand
And send us fair wind while at sea bound down for Newfoundland