The Flemings of Torbay

The Flemings Of Torbay is a popular Newfoundland folk song. It was written by Johnny Burke (1851-1930), a popular St. John's balladeer.

Lyrics

:The thrilling news we heard last week:is in our memories yet,:Two fishermen from Newfoundland:saved from the jaws of death;:Two fine young men born in Torbay:who went adrift at sea,:On the eighteenth day of April:from the schooner Jubilee.

:They left to prosecute their voyage:near the Grand Banks' stormy shore,:Where many's the hardy fisherman:was never heard of more;:For six long days in storms at sea:those hardy fellows stood,:Fatigued, footsore, and hungry,:no water or no food.

:Tossed on the seas ail those long days:while bitter was each night,:No friend to speak a kindly word,:no sail to heave in sight;:At last a vessel hove in sight:and saw the floating speck,:The Jessie Maurice was her name,:coal laden from Quebec.

:Our wheelsman well-trained he espied:clear through the misty haze,:Those poor exhausted fishermen:adrift so many days;:Our captain, a kindhearted man,:had just come on the deck,:Then orders gave to hard aport:and shaped her for the wreck.

:Two hours or more while the winds did roar:the Jessie sailed around,:To see if any tidings of:the dory could be found;:The crew was stationed on the bow:all anxious her to hail,:When the captain spied her in:the fog just aft the water rail.

:Our brave commander right away:the order gave to launch,:The jolly boats that hung astern:of good old oak so staunch;:Two brave old seamen manned the oars:and at the word to go,:The captain standing in the bow:to take the boat in tow.

:The captain gripped the painter for:to bring her to the barque,:While those on board were still as death,:their features cold and dark;:A sling was then made fast below:in which those men to place,:While tender-hearted mariners:they worked with noble faith.

:No sign of life was in those men:as they were placed in bed,:But still our captain held out hope:the vital spark not fled;:He watched for days and sleepless nights:to bring those men around,:And on the second day discerned:but just a feeble sound.

:The first to speak was Peter,:the eldest of the two,:He told the captain who they were,:a part of the Jubilee's crew;:And how in April on the Banks:they chanced to drift astray,:And lay exposed in an open boat:for six long stormy days.

:Our captain then our stuns'l set:and shaped her for Quebec,:He took on board the dory:and all left of the wreck;:He watched those men with a mother's care:while in their berth they lay,:And saved the lives of two poor boys:once more to see Torbay.

:God bless the Jessie's gallant crew,:likewise their captain bold,:Their names should be recorded:into letters of bright gold;:And send them peace and happiness:in every port they lay,:The plucky boys that saved the life:of the Flemings of Torbay.

ee also

* List of Newfoundland songs