More reasons to love Wikipedia

[annathepiper]

I have no builds to test this morning yet, so now it's time for an obligatory gratuitous GBS-related LJ post!

One of my very favorite Great Big Sea songs, "Lukey", has its very own Wikipedia link. Courtesy of this link, I even learned a couple of things about the song that I hadn't known before--such as how in the verse about Lukey's boat and its sails, what might actually be getting sung there is "hoist up sails" rather than "high top sails". Possible matter of Newfoundlander pronunciation, there. Those of you on my Friends list who are in or have recently been in St. John's (avalonmissy, framlingem, lethendy, scrunchions, I'm looking in your direction), any commentary on this? It'd be cool to know if that is indeed accurate.

The article also provides a link off to what "planching" is, which explains another part of that verse (it means laying down floorboards), and that verse about Lukey's wife apparently ends in "I'll get me another in the spring of the year", which makes a LOT more sense than "I'll get me another in the spring of the AIR". Which is what I'd been hearing all this time, and I've been a Great Big Sea fan for what, five years now?

(Also, five years now, and I still occasionally catch myself typing 'Great Big Sean'. ;) )

Tangentially related in matters a bit less pertinent to deciphering Great Big Sea lyrics and a bit more pertinent to if I ever get to write the next two books to go with Faerie Blood, I also found a Wikipedia link on Newfoundland English. Most of which tells me I had the right general idea for Christopher's accent in my brain, and which also gives me a couple more little ideas for things he might toss off in periodic bits of dialogue later.

Thursday morning miles: 1.0
Miles out of Hobbiton: 288.55
Miles to Rivendell: 169.45

Comments

[lethendy.livejournal.com]

You'll probably find that the lyrics to any traditional song will vary slightly depending on the region you're in when you hear it. Due to the strong oral tradition here, singing round the campfire is somewhat akin to a game of Chinese Whispers. People take away with them what they heard - which is not always what was said. Which is my long-winded way of saying "hoist up sails" is just as likely to be correct as "high top sails." Although for the record, I have always thought Alan is saying the latter.

As for your character's accent - that all depends on where he hails from on the island. People from the Southern Shore have accents that lean more to the Irish, but up in the New-Wes-Valley they are more English-based, and so it varies across the island. You can always look into getting the Dictionary of Newfoundland English (http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/item.asp?Item=978080206819&Catalog=Books&Ntt=newfoundland+english&N=35&Lang=en&Section=books&zxac=1) if it's a major part of your novel.

[annathepiper]

Indeed, I've heard tell of the variance of accents in Newfoundland; this has been periodically talked about on the OKP and on the Fishtank. It's something I've kept in mind, just listening to the various members of GBS themselves. I can begin to pick out small differences in their accents, though it's a bit tough when we have only a small set of example material to work with (the little bits of song banter in concert recordings, and the interview bits on the DVD).

Christopher is a St. John's man, so I have been listening very, very hard to any bits of recorded talk out of Mr. Hallett. :) His accent is somewhat muted the way I 'hear' him, though; his history has him having left St. John's 16 years prior to the events in Faerie Blood. However, his accent breaks back out in times of stress.

Oooooo about the dictionary tip--thanks! It's not immediately relevant to Faerie Blood, which is now done and awaiting the verdict from the publisher currently looking at it. But, should I get to write books 2 and 3, that tip may prove extremely useful as book 3 is going to be set at least partially in St. John's. Thanks!

[annathepiper]

And oh yeah--thanks for your verdict on the lyrics of "Lukey", too. Clearly I shall have to listen to the song a few thousand more times to satisfy my ear. Oh darn. ;)

[otoselkie.livejournal.com]

I'll get me another in the spring of the AIR

Really? I've always heard it 'I'll get me another one that's prettier 'n yer" (another one that's prittier than yours, basically). On the other hand, you have three years fandom on me :).

[annathepiper]

Well, "spring of the air" is how I always heard it, but Wikipedia lists the words as "spring of the year", which is what made me go "buh huh what?" avalonmissy has that bit right on her GBS site, too, but damned if it ever actually clicked in my brain.

And don't feel bad about the mishearing! I had a devil of a time making out all the words to "Mari-Mac", too. ;) Also, as lethendy points out... part of the entire point of these songs is to see what you yourself hear in it. It's how they change from singer to singer!