Norma Waterson - When First I Came To Caledonia Lyrics

When first i came to caledonia
and i got loading at number three
and i got lodging with donald norman
he had a daughter could make good tea
And it was me and me brother charlie
two bigger shavers you ne'er did see
we're spearing eels in the month of april
and starving slaves out on scataree
I went to norman to buy some brochan [brogues and]
a cake of soap and a pound of tea
but norman said that i could not have them
till fish got plenty on scataree
So i went over to the big harbour
i only went for to see the spray
i saw a maid from boulardrie over
she looked to me like the queen of may
If i had pen from pennsylvania
and i had paper so snowy white
and i had ink of rosy morning
a true love letter to you i'd write
I put my foot on the deepest ocean
as far from land as once i could be
a-sailing over the deepest water
a woman's love'd never bother me
I set my head to a cask of brandy
and it's a dandy i do declare
for when i'm drinking i'm sad and thinking
how i could gain that young lady fair
(repeat first verse)