A is for axes we very well know

The woodsman's alphabet includes A for Axe, B for Boys, C for chopping, D for Danger, E for Echo, G for Grindstones, F for Foreman, H for Hands, I for Iron, J for jewels, K for keen edge, L for Lice, M for mom, N for needle, P for pine, Q is quarelling - which is not allowed, R for river, S for seeds, T for Teams, U for unicorn, V for Valley, W for woods, and the singer must leave before the end because his train is coming

Seven long years I've been in prison

The narrator has been in prison for seven years for stealing a gold watch and chain - and he has seven more years for knocking a man down when he did so. His family are by the sea - he wonders if they ever think of him.See song annotation projects - "Gold Watch and Chain"

There is a girl in St. John's town I'm going for to see

The narrator has an incomparable "girl" in St. John's. He courted her at the Nickle - they went to the pictures most nights until he left to fight the Germans. The song incites other brave sailors to fight boldly

As I went out walking one evening of late

The narrator spies lovely Flora walking in Glencoe. He tries to court her but she is constant to her lover, MacDonald. He draws out her love token and reveals that he is MacDonald, and they will live happily together in Glencoe.Mercer, 126

If you chance to cross the causeway to the island of Cape Breton

You will have a wonderful time in Cape Breton. In Insemen you will meet "good, upright Canadians" - French, English and Gaelic speakers. The enchanting Cabot Trail will enthrall you - Cabot landed first in America at Dingwall. See Giant Macaskill's grave, and his clothes, at the Gaelic Mod. See band of pipers formed of "worrisome loves" (sp?).By J. Carmichael of Tarbotvale

Shoemaker John was a jolly old man

Shoemaker John needs shoes "with a rap a tap tap and a teep a tap too"

There's a lovely little maiden that I always did adore

The narrator was captured by a band of b___ in Italy and left, bound, in a dungeon. The chief's daughter un(locked?) him and gave him gold to help in his escape. He asked her to come with him and marry him, but though it was clear she loved him, she remained with her father. The singer wants to return to Italy for her

Down by a weeping willow where the violets gently bloom

Her lover asks a maiden to marry him. She refuses and he kills her. The murderer, Willie, is sent to the gallows for his crime

In Canso Strait we now do lay

The captain is drunnk and refuses to let his men shorten sail in a squall. Eventually, they threaten to tie him down if he stops them - the narrator swears never again to sail with a drunken captain in a heavy gale

Of late a noble steamer the "Cedar Grove" by name

The "Cedar Grove" sailed from London with a cargo for Halifax and St. John. Miss Farrel and the Captain were lost in a wave which swept over the ship during a storm