I's The B'y

I's The B'y (also I'se The Bye) is a traditional Newfoundland folk song/ballad. The author, however, is unknown. "I's the B'y" is in the Newfoundland English dialect, and translates to standard English as "I am the Boy". The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame has decided to honour the song in 2005, officially accepting it as part of the Canadian Song Hall of Fame. [1]

Lyrics

I's the b'y that builds the boat
And I's the b'y that sails her
I's the b'y that catches the fish
And takes them home to Lizer.

Chorus: Hip yer partner, Sally Tibbo'
Hip yer partner, Sally Brown
Fogo, Twillingate , Morton's Harbour
All around the circle!

Sods and rinds to cover your flake
Cake and tea for supper
Codfish in the spring o' the year
Fried in maggoty butter.

I don't want your maggoty fish
That's no good for winter
I could buy as good as that
Down in Bonavista.

I took Lizer to a dance
And faith, but she could travel
And every step that she did take
Was up to her knees in gravel.

Susan White, she's out of sight
Her petticoat wants a border
Old Sam Oliver in the dark
He kissed her in the corner.