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Sleeve Notes
Nellie J. Banks — Lennie wrote this song so long ago that when we asked if we could record it, he had almost forgotten all about it. A tale of an old rum-runner who used to ply her trade between the islands of St. Pierre and Prince Edward Island.
Four Strong Winds — It is sometimes the fate of popular songs that nn one ever sings them anymore. This is one of the great folk songs known the world over, so lets sing it.
Shine On Brighter — Kevin received the inspiration to write this song after reflecting on a very late phone call from his mother a number of years ago. Though the grass may look somewhat greener elsewhere it is most green where the soul resides, at home.
The Tavern — What better place to hear a tall tale or two than in "The place where the sailormen gather" for a drink or three. Some of these old pubs have as much character as the old "salts" who frequent them.
Early Morning Rain — Another gem in the crown jewels of folk music.
Farewell To Nova Scotia — Perhaps the best known of all the songs collected by Dr. Helen Creighton. Our version, of what is normally a foot-stomper, has had the brakes applied. We hope you agree that, when sung as a ballad, the anthem-like qualities of the song really stand out.
Peter Emberly — Both Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick claim this song as part of their tradition. Far be it from us to fuel the fire of ownership by saying it belongs to either. There are many versions of this song, as is often the case in traditional music; we hope you enjoy ours.
Someone Who Loves Ya — A true story [and we never lie only when the truth doesn't suit] about a woman who has made up her mind and a man who is about to have his mind made up for him.
Make And Break Harbour — Such was the insight of Stan Rogers that at the time this song was written the Fishing industry was alive and vibrant. Stan's words speak of the very things responsible for the industry's demise, the combination of technology and avarice.
Black Flies — In spite of the vast quantities of this species we kill each year, they never seem to make the endangered list.
Tickle Cove Pond — In early Winter the frozen pond or lake can sometimes make a tempting shortcut. In this song we find the animal's instinct much sharper than that of its owner Incidentally, no animal is injured in the telling of this story.
Sonny's Dream — A well-known song on both sides of the Atlantic. Some people however sing different words from the original. We favour and follow Ron's original script.
Every year now for … Oh … Since Adam was a boy … Brian and Kevin and I have been getting together for a tour of Newfoundland or Nova Scotia or both, bringing with us our song bag of old favourites to people who have become old friends. It's hard for me to imagine a year without a trip to the Maritimes swappin' songs and eatin' lobsters at Brian's house and ceilidhing at the Butlers in Sydney (God I Miss Tic!) and meeting all the gang and trying to get ourselves blown off Signal Hill and goin' mad from the fiddlin', the fiddlln' and then more fiddlin' washed down with Screech. And every May, Kev and Brian and the families come to Ireland where great quantities of bacon and cabbage and Guinness and songs and tunes and more songs and more Guinness are consumed.
Strangely enough it was always in Ireland we sang the Canadian songs and in Canada the Irish songs. So it's not surprising then that it was In Ireland we put our heads together and came up with this batch of our favourite Canadian songs, took ourselves into the recording studio in Ring, County Waterford, for ten days or so and hatched out this album.
It was an album that we just had to make — as Brian said it was like an itch that we had to scratch. So here's hoping you enjoy our particular 'take' on these songs from the land that has taken these three Irish balladeers to its heart and given us so much of its bounty.