OLF ROGERS
Olf lived on Dunn's Point. He played the Jews Harp and sang, his favourite song being “The Old Plantation Shoes", once referred to by Michael Pittman as “The Auld Brogues". His wife, Mrs. Kate, was born in Merasheen, and came off the island to the mainland for the first time when she moved to Freshwater under the resettlement program at the age of 84 years. She visited a doctor for the first time after she moved to Placentia in the late sixties.
JIMMY BARRETT
Jimmy came to Merasheen from Pinchers Island and lived on Dunn's Point. He had a small house which was always a gathering place for those who wanted to hear Jimmy's “tall stories" or "lies". Jimmy said he had exactly 101 songs. Unfortunately, we couldn't get them for our book.
Jimmy singing Old Plantation Shoes
The Drunken Captain
(This song was sung by Bill Wilson)
In a stream of calm our vessel lay, our drunken captain got on a spree,
He came on board and to us did say, “get the anchor ready and we'll sail away".
We got all ready by his command and the wind blew free as we left the land,
We left Cape Pine all on our lee and we swung her off to the deep blue sea.
Down came the squall from the angry sky, our ship she hove but she would not lie,
We asked our captain to shorten sail, or we‘d all be lost in the heavy gale.
He swung his hands and he tore his hair, saying “boys I‘m captain you need not fear",
Saying “boys I‘m captain, you need not fear, I’ll shoot the first man to interfere."
Then up spoke one of our gallant crew, saying “there’s twelve of us on this deck do stand,
We'll reef her down, to the sea she’ll go, if you interfere you’ll be tied below".
We reefed her down all against his will, the wind blew free and the sails were filled,
We're heading up along the Cape Shore now as she splits the white foam, out from her bow.
Yes we’re bound home in deep distress, like a white seagull as she seeks her nest.
When I get on shore, no more I'll sail, with a drunken captain in a heavy gale.