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Bound Down to Newfoundland 
Bound Down to Newfoundland 
You landsmen that live on land, It's little do you know What us poor seamen do endure When stormy winds do blow; On St. Patrick's Day we sailed away In the Schooner Mary Ann, We left New York, our native home, Bound down for Newfoundland. 
The morning service it being o'er We quickly slipped our lines, And the Liberty statue in New York We soon left far behind. We spread our canvas to the breeze For to shove us off the land As we squared away from our native homes, Bound down to Newfoundland. 
Our captain was a strapping youth Scarce thirty years of age; He was wedded to his loving wife Three days before we sailed, But little did she ever think, As you might understand, That her husband dear she would see no more As he sailed for Newfoundland. 
Three days after we set sail Our captain he fell sick, And scarcely was he able To show himself on deck, He called his mate unto him And thus to him did say, "I am stricken down with some disease As you might understand, 
And to you, my mate, I will leave full charge, Bound down to Newfoundland." But if you can reach any port On the Nova Scotia shore, Give me a decent burial; 
Of you I'll ask no more, And if you ever do reach New York, My death you will make known, For my dying, sorrow it will bring To my once-loved native shore. " 
With saddened hearts we swung her off His orders to obey; We made the land quite early All on that very day, And four o'clock in the evening It was at God's command, In Arichat our captain died, Bound down to Newfoundland. 
The doctor he was called on board His death for to make known, Smallpox on board was raging, Was told to every man, It was on the following evening Two more were sent on shore; May the Lord have mercy on their souls We shall never see them more. 
Out of five bold youths that left New York Only two now did return Home to their wives and families Their losses for to mourn. Home to their wives and families, And never more to roam, And learn to live as landsmen do Forever safe at home. 
From Maritime Folk Songs, Creighton Collected from Berton Young, West Petpeswick, 1951 Note: you can fit in the longer verse 4 by repeating
 the last two lines of the tune. RG DT #615 Laws D22