Bessie From Banksland
(Pat Barry)
1. Bessie came back to Banksland from school in Yellowknife
She was looking for a husband who was looking for a wife
She wore her hair in a beesnest pouf, tight dress above her knees
She lighted up a filter tip and said, "Who'll marry me?
Oh, me, sweet me."
2. "I have been to school and learned to be a perfect wife
Put flowers on the table and lead a dainty life.
I've learned to iron shirts and sheets and cook electrically
And I have learned to dance with a man so he'll have to marry me.
Oh me, sweet me."
3. She glanced around Sachs Harbour at all the single males
Her eye fell on a handsome lad, his name was Bobby Bales
Said Bob, "It's true I need a wife and you can dance with me
But you won't lead a dainty life if you marry me -
Not if you marry me."
4. "You will cut up dry fish and you will scrape the skins
You will flour foxes and pack the water in,
You will sew my parka and you will boil my tea
And you will harness up the dogs if you marry me
Yes, if you marry me."
5. "Well, I'll not cut up dry fish and I'll not scrape the skins
And I'll not flour foxes nor pack the water in,
I can't sew a parka and I don't like boiled tea
And I'm scared to hell of your husky dogs so you can't marry me
Oh me, sweet me."
6. Bessie went away from Banksland, she went down to Inuvik where
Two years more or less had passed till Bobby saw her there.
She said, "I lead a dainty life with a man from DOT [MOT]
But he has got an outside wife so he can't marry me.
Oh me, poor me."
from the singing of Al Cox of Vancouver
JB
apr97
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!