Mark Walker

Brief Biography

Mark Walker was born in Tickle Cove in 1846. He would grow up to be a fisherman and songwriter. Walker married in 1873 and moved to Sweet Bay around 1875 where he became the town’s first postmaster. He would later move to Boston in 1906 and passed away in 1924.

Please see below for a list of songs written by Mark Walker and their respective lyrics.

Songs by Mark Walker

TICKLE COVE POND

In cuttin' and haulin', in frost an' in snow,
We're up against troubles that few people know,
And 'tis only by patience with courage and grit
And eatin' plain food that we keep ourselves fit ;
The hard an' the aisey we takes as it comes?
When the pond freezes over we shortens our runs.
To hurry my hauling, the spring coming on,
Near lost my fine mare in on Tickle Cove Pond.

Chorus
Oh, lay hold, William Over; lay hold, William White,
Lay hold of the cordage and pull all your might;
Lay hold of the bowline and pull all you can,
And give me a lift for poor Kit on the Pond.

I knew that the ice became weaker each day,
But still took the risk and kept hauling away.
One evenin' in April, bound home with a load,
The mare showed some halting against the ice road,
And knew more than I did, as matters turned out?
And lucky for me if I joined her in doubt.
She turned round her head and with tears in her eyes,
As if she was saying"You're riskin' our lives."

All this I ignored with a whip handle blow,
For man is too stupid dumb creatures to know.
The very next minute the pond gave a sigh,
And down to our necks went poor Kitty and I.
Though if I'd taken poor Kitty's advice
I never would take the short cut on the ice.
Poor creature, she's dead, and, poor creature, she's gone.
I'll ne'er get my wood off of Tickle Cove Pond.

I raised an alarm you could hear for a mile,
And neighbours turned up in a very short while
You can always rely on the Overs and Whites
To render assistance in all your bad plights.
To help the poor neighbour is part of their lives,
The same I can say of their children and wives.
When the bowline was fastened around the mare's breast
William White for a shanty song made a request :

There was no time for thinking, No time for delay,
So straight from my head
Came this song right away:
Lay hold, William Over; lay hold William White,
Lay hold to the ropes and pull all your might
Lay hold to the bowline and pull all you can:
With that we brought kit out of Tickle Cove Pond.

NELLIE NEIL, ME LITTLE KETTLE

Come, all good people, pray attend
And listen to my ditty
'Tis of a maid who is more fair
Than any in the city.
For Tickle Cove is her abode;
She has but little fortune,
But mirthful glee it pleases me,
Being fond of all diversion.

Many a man would take her hand
If he only got the offer;
For she's a handsome, sporting maid,
Likewise a midwife's daughter.
And in the sunshine of her smile
To bask sick swains are longing;
No wonder, then, so many men
Around her house keep thronging.

And now the names I will explain,
Or else it won't be funny
There's Connors, Prince and foxy Jack,
And likewise Bill Mullowney.
Joseph Crewe, she did ensnare
And drew his whole attention
Another lad has gone quite mad,
Whom I don't care to mention.

All were prosperous fishermen,
And if she favoured any
A Savings Bank book he could show,
Recording dollars many.
But maiden's mind is hard to find,
And you should hear our strictures
When she got wed to travelling Ned,
Enlarging tin-type pictures.

The Race on Tickle Cove Pond

John Kelly, a builder, and a man of great skill,

He built a fine boat for himself and young Bill;

They called her the Shamrock she looked good and strong;

They brought Jack the shiner from Tickle Cove Pond.

'Twas early next morning the owners came down,

Says John Kelly to Samuel I'll bet you twenty pounds.

Here's 20 says Samuel, pounds shillings and pence,

And with that the two owners sat back on the fence.

They settled together details of the row,

'Twas now choose your oarsmen to settle the case;

And six jolly fellows stout, able and strong,

To row death or glory on Tickle Cove Pond.

As a signal for starting they fired off a gun,

the flag it was waving, and beating a drum;

They went in their turn and kept even stroke,

But the shamrock was leading in turning the post.

Three cheers for the Shamrock broke out on the gal

Bullo an hoora cries out Thomas Neil.

Fair play says Neil Humby for I broke out an oar.

And I'll have satisfaction when I get on shore.

He sprang from the Buccons when the boat reached the beach

And Bill Walker stepped forward that hero to meet.

At a signal for battle 'twas at it they were,

And they banged one another to their hearts content.

Details of the fight I never can tell;

Jacob Moss struck Mick. Neil laid michael out well;

Says Jacob to Mickel I'd like to give o'er,

Begrh, then says Mickel you'll pay the full score,

For out of my arms you never shall go

Until you will pay for that unlawful blow.

In the middle of the racket the Quintons stepped in;

There were Harry and Dicky and Aunt Graces Jim.

And Georgie and Jackie and Billy and Bob,

And quite a contingent and almost a mob.

There were Kellys and Taylors and Lanes in galore,

They reached from Tom Whites down to Humby's black store.

There were Overs and Princes and Humbys & Gales

And Bill Walker cried out over there's 6 of the Neils.

THE " ANTIS" OF PLATE COVE--BY MARK WALKER

Come, all ye good people, pay 'tention,
And listen a while unto me,
Concerning a band of vile traitors
That lives at the head of our Bay;
Their names for some time I'll not mention,
I may apprehend them bye an' bye;
Their leader he was a blind piper,
By the Parson's game-cock lost an eye.

Chorus:

Hurrah for the "Antis" of Plate Cove,
A real little patriot band,
Who used their exertions November
To down the Confederate clan.

The day that the Poll Booth was opened
The" Antis" and "Cons" they were there
The flag of cursed confederation
Was gallantly marched to the rear.
Keough he struck Newel, the bearer,
And trampled the rag to the ground;
Mavoureen he struck Neddy Humby
And frightened the Abbots and Brown.

Then out came that chap of the Brennan's
A son to the leader in strife,
He took an oak stave in the morning
And swore he would have" Antis" life;
He soon was perceived by those heroes
Descendants of old Granu-Aile,
Who tumbled him into a mud pool
And followed the Brennans on trail.

The next was the great Patagonian,
Both matchless in manner and size;
He first talked in favour of "Antis",
Then joined the Confederate side.
The gang got a tub of old "soldiers"
And pelted him down to his door;
His mother did not know her offspring
Till she washed him a dozen times o'er.

Oh, boys, if you saw the fair Jenny,
I'm sure you would pity her case,
And if she was handy to Ridley
He may sympathise with her Grace;
Poor thing, she is half broken-hearted,
Since the "Antis " they have gained the day,
Short shoes and long corns may attend her
Is the wish of all Bonavis' Bay.

And now to conclude this short ditty,
I hope a good lesson we've taught,
And touters sent here from the city
Have learned that Plate Cove can't be bought.
Our fathers came here to get freedom,
Their sons will not barter way;
Then hurrah for the "Antis" of Plate Cove,
The "Athens" of Bonavis' Bay.

FANNY'S HARBOUR BAWN

As I roamed out one evening, in the lovely month of May,
Those verdant hills I rambled to view the distant bay.
The craft were flocking down the shore, and pleasant looked the day;
To my surprise a pair I spied which caused me to delay.

'Twas then I saw a young man embracing fondly
The person of a fair one that once was loved by me;
My heart with jealous motion felt eagerly the wrong,
Which caused this fearful contest on Fanny's Harbour Bawn.

I there addressed this young man, and unto him did say,
"Are you from Bonavista or are you from the Bay?
I think you are a northern man-a bay man, I presume,
So I pray to be gone all from the Bawn, or I'll boot you in your bloom."

He quickly made an answer, and this to me did say :
"I'm not from Bonavista, but I am from the Bay;
I do reside where storms and tide have swept down buildings strong,
Here in full glee from T. and C. to meet you on the Bawn.

He stood no hesitation, but struck immediately.
This damsel mild stood like a child, to witness the melee;
A pain then in my chest he caused before 'twas very long,
My person pucked and darling took on Fanny's Harbour Bawn.

He skinned my nose down my poor face as I instantly did rise,
And soon unto my eagle eye he joined a bunch of fives;
I lay there quite prostrated and lifeless on the Bawn,
And when I came to my senses, the Bayman he was gone.

Now when you meet with Northern men, you'll think they're somewhat green
You'll treat them with a scornful look as unfit to be seen;
You'll scoff them and rebuke them with a scolding tongue,
'Till them enrage and in a fight engage, then from bayman you will run.

I will not fail to tell the tale, nor yet my true-love's name,
Her name is Catherine Murphy ,and she l dwells in Roger's Lane;
And I'm a youth from Carbonear, once loved by her, I know
My curse attend that Northern man that proved my overthrow.

Now to conclude these painful lines, from courting I'll refrain,
And the rest of my companions, I hope they'll do the same,
For in courting there's great jealously, and likewise envy strong,
Which caused my claret free to flow on Fanny's Harbour Bawn.

Tickle Cove Pond II

There's a place on the shore where I first saw the light,

Where my heart wanders back in sweet dreams of delight;

Though far from my home I can picture it still,

The Arch by the motion and old Gerald's Hill.

The storm beaten ocean with the seas rolling on,

And the echoes resounding over Tickle Cove Pond.

Lovely Katie-O

At twenty-one I first begun to court a come-ly maid;

Her figure form it was handsome, which had my heart betrayed.

I asked her if she'd marry me or kindly let me know;

It's for pleasures I will wait awhile for lovely Katie-O

She says: 'Young man be easy, and wait a little while,
Don't be so persevering, for I'm but yet a child;
For if you're inclined for to be mine, then away from you I will go, And don't torment a virgin like lovely Katie-o.'

It was full of glee we parted when she said she'd marry me, When another opportunity with she could not agree;
When a young man named Mike Whelan a-courting her did go, With his coaxing and persuadence, he won my Katie-o.

Soon as he had her poor heart won, I'm sure he lost no time,
It was straight before a clergyman in wedlock they were joined; Which leaves me here with a broken heart, in sorrow, grief, and woe, And it's hard to find a girl like mine, sure I don't know where to go.

It would break the heart of any young man to see them passing by,
You could hear the charms up in Indian Arm as the bride and groom drew nigh;
With her crying out for vengeance, with her shouting to and fro,
And it's where to find a girl like mine, sure I don't know where to go.

Come all young men that go courting, a warning take by me,

Don't never trust a fair pretty maid whoever she may be;

Don't never trust a fair pretty maid wherever you may go,

Like that one named lovely Katie, to me have proved untrue.

The Girls of Sweet Bay

Come all ye young men, who now go a courting,
Beware of choosing the girls from Sweet Bay.
So now like me you may get defeated
They'll scorn you with pride, when some other they see.

I courted this creature whenever I could reach her
For seven long years, in love did agree.
Until her old parents, they came to dislike it
They said they would banish my darling from me.

Her parents could beat her but they could not teach her
To love any other, she felt not inclined,
Until a deceiver, who came to mislead her,
Her eyes being not opened, she soon changed her mind.

Wherever I wander, I'll sit and I'll ponder,
And think on the hours, together we spend
In her own little greenwood, not far from her dwelling
She promised she loved me a time and again.

Farewell lovely Nancy, for since we have parted
Don't think for a moment you led me astray.
For the man who enjoys the first bloom of a blossom
Should have the best right to the fruit on the tree.

Down by Jim Long's Stage (Widely speculated to have been authored by Mark Walker)

As I roved out one day in June,

'Twas down by Jim Long's stage,

I met my true love's father

All in a frightful rage.

His eyes shot blood and slaughter,

As these words he spoke to me,

"Young man, you wants me daughter,

But you never can wed she."

For a better man I'm searchin'

For she must wed the best,

I intend her for a merchant

Who lives in Bonavist".

Says I :" I'll win Eliza

Tho 'tis against your will,

And I'll build a fairy bower

For her on notchy hill.

Beyond the Plate Cove Mountains,

Where the pleasant waters flow

I'll build a home for 'Lisa

Where the great big birches grow.

And 'twill be a happy homestead,

No trouble and no strife,

For I mean to have Eliza,

To be my darlin' wife."

With that her father smiled on me

Sayin' : "Young man you need not rove,

You're the bravest youth from Red Cliff

Right round to Western Cove.

And that man in Bonavista,

I didn't mean at all.

So you can have Eliza,

And wed her in the fall."

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