SQUID-JIGGIN' GROUND
(Newfie Traditional)


Oh! this is the place where the fishermen gather,
With oil skins and boots and capeanns battened down,
All sizes of figures with squid lines and jiggers,
They congregate here on the squid - jiggin' ground

Some are workin' their jiggers while others are yarnin',
There's some standin' up and some more lyin' down,
While all kinds of fun, jokes and tricks are begun
As they wait for the squid on the squid - jiggin' ground.

There's men from the
harbour and men from the tickle,
In all kinds of motor
boats, green, grey and brown;
There's a red-headed troy
out here in a dory,
A runnin' down squires on
the squid - jiggin' ground.

There's men of all ages and boys in the bargain,
There's old Bill Chafe and there' young Raymond Brown;
Right younder is "Bobby" and with him is "Nobby",
They're a-chewin' hard tack on the squid-jiggin' ground.

The man with the whiskers
is old Jacob Steele;
He's gettin' well up but
he's still pretty sound;
While Uncle Bob Hawkins
wears three pairs of stockin's
Whenever he's out on the
squid-jiggin' ground

God bless my sou'wester there's Skipper John Chaffey.
He's the best man at squid-jiggin' here. I'll be bound.
Hellow! What's the row? Why, he's jiggin' one now___
The very first on the squid - jiggin' ground.

Holy smoke! What a bussel;
all hands are excited.
It's a wonder to me that
nobody is drowned.
There's a bussel.
confussion. a wonderfull hussel;
They're all jiggin' squid

on the squid - jiggin' ground.
There's poor Uncle Billy, his whiskers are spattered
With spots of the squid juice that's flyin' around.
One poor little boy got it right in the eye
But they don't care a hang on the squid - jiggin' ground.

Says Bobby: "The squid are
on top of the water
I just got me jigger about
one fathom down"___
When a squid in the boat
squirted right down his throat
And he's swearin' like mad
on the squid - jiggin' ground.

Now if you ever feel inclined to go squiddin'
Leave your white shirt and collars behind in the town,
And if you get cranky without a silk hanky
You'd better steer clear of the squid - jiggin' ground.