Lukey's Boat
"Lukey's Boat" is a comical folk song originating from the east coast of Newfoundland. Given its meter, it may have ultimately derived from a sea shanty.
There are many minor variations of the song, depending on the singer; however it is essentially about the characteristics of the title boat, with the last few stanzas about Lukey returning home to find his wife dead and buried (which doesn't grieve him much, as he'll have another "in the spring of the year".)
It was recorded as "Lukey" by Great Big Sea (with the Chieftains) for their 1995 CD Up.
Notes
- Words in Newfoundland English have been linked to their respective pages on The Dictionary of Newfoundland English website.
- "High stop" may actually be "hoist up", which in Newfoundland English would be pronounced to rhyme with "priced up".
- There are minor variations of the lyrics, depending on the singer, but the essence of the song is the same. Below is one such version.
Lyrics
LUKEY'S BOAT
- Lukey's boat is painted green,
- Aha, my boys,
- Lukey's boat is painted green,
- The prettiest boat you ever seen.
- Aha me boys a riddle I day.
- Lukey's boat got a fine fore cutty,
- And every seam is chinked with putty.
- Lukey's boat got high stop sails,
- And she was planched with copper nails.
- Oh, Lukey's boat got a high stopped jib
- And a patent block to her foremast head,
- I think, says Lukey, I'll make her bigger,
- I'll load her down with a one claw jigger.
- Lukey's rolling out his grub,
- One split pea in a ten pound tub.
- Aha, says Lukey, the blinds are down,
- My wife is dead and underground.
- Aha, says Lukey, I don't care. aha my boys,
- Aha, says Lukey, I don't care,
- I'll get me another in the spring of the year.
- Aha me boys a riddle I day.