I's the B'y

"I'se The B'y" (also I's The Bye) is a traditional Newfoundland folk song/ballad. "I's the B'y" is in the Newfoundland English dialect, and translates to standard English as "I'm the Boy" or "I'm the Guy". The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame decided to honour the song in 2005, officially accepting it as part of the Canadian Song Hall of Fame.

Native Newfoundland folk songs have fared well in terms of continued popularity, due in part to their appearance in widely circulated publications such as Gerald S. Doyle's songsters. Doyle's company published five free and popular collections of Newfoundland songs, the first in 1927, as a means of promoting his patent medicine business. These songs included "I'se the B'y", "Tickle Cove Pond", "Jack Was Every Inch a Sailor", "Old Polina", "The Ryans and the Pittmans", and "Lukey's Boat".

Professional musicians including Clint Curtiss, Dick Nolan, Great Big Sea and Gordon Bok have recorded the song (the latter under both its original name and the title "Liverpool Handy"). Toronto-based Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker sampled the lyrics in their first single, "Hollowpoint Sniper Hyperbole". An instrumental version of the song was also played in episode two of the HBO series The Neistat Brothers.

A Strathspey for bagpipes was composed in honour of "I's the B'y".

Lyrics
I's the b'y that builds the boat And I's the b'y that sails her I's the b'y that catches the fish And brings them home to Liza. (or Lizer)

Chorus: Hip yer partner, Sally Thibault Hip yer partner, Sally Brown Fogo, Twillingate, Moreton's Harbour All around the circle!

Sods and rinds to cover your flake Cake and tea for supper Codfish caught in the spring o' the year Fried in maggoty butter.

Chorus:

I don't want your maggoty fish They're no good for winter I could buy as good as that Down in Bonavista.

Chorus:

I took Liza to a dance As fast as she could travel And every step that she did take Was up to her knees in gravel.

Chorus:

Susan White, she's out of sight Her petticoat wants a border Old Sam Oliver in the dark He kissed her in the corner.