Words J.B. Connolly; Music © 1992 Gordon Bok
At Art Krause's house one winter, I found these words in one of James B. Connolly's novels: "The Seiners." I don't know if it is a traditional song or not, so I attribute it to Connolly.
This vessel had a lot going against her; in some places, painting any part of a vessel blue is horrible bad luck.
Gordon and twelve-string.
On the Liza Jane with a blue foremast
And a load of hay come drifting past
The skipper stood aft and he says: "How do?
We're the Liza Jane, now who be you?"
-Stood by the wheel and he says "How do,
We're from Bangor, Maine. From where be you?"
Oh the Liza Jane left port one day
With a fine fair tide and the day Friday
But the damned old tide sent her bow askew
And the Liza Jane began to slew
- Hi diddle di, she'da' fairly flew
If she only could said the other-end-to.
Oh the Liza Jane left port one day
With hold full of squash and her deck all hay
Put out from Bath with all sails set –
Two years gone, she's drifting yet.
- Hi diddle di, for a good old craft
She'da' sailed very well with her bow on aft.
Now the Liza Jane got a new foretruck
Good stick of wood but it wouldn't stay stuck
Got a breeze one day from the NNW
Doggone thing come down with the rest:
-Hi diddle di and a breeze from the West
You'd'a thunk the truck wouldn't stick with the rest.
Liza Jane is recorded on Schooners and is also in the songbook One to Sing, One to Haul