Yardo
The town of Barouaille on the Island of St. Vincent was a fishing and whaling center. Shanties were sung to alert the people on shore that the fishermen caught a whale and would be needing their help. Yardo is considered a hauling song for when they were bringing the whale into port.
Yardo
Yard-o
Sea Shanty
Sea Shanty
(English Dialect)
(English)
Yardo, yardo,
Debil in the yardo
Yeah, debil in the yard-o
Mastah didna left no money,
Mistress have me look for money,
Yeah, debil in the yard-o.
Yardo, yardo,
Debil in the yardo
Yeah, debil in the yard-o
Yardo, yardo,
Debil in the yardo
Yeah, debil in the yard-o!
Mastah didna left no money,
Mistress have me work for money,
Yeah, debil in the yard-o!
Yardo, yardo,
Bella ringa yardo
Yeah, bella ringa yard-o,
Yardo, yardo,
Bella ringa yardo,
Yeah, bella ringa yard-o!
Mastah did not left no money
Mistress said to work for something
Yeah, debil in the yard-o
Yardo, yardo,
Debil in the yardo
Yeah, debil in the yard-o!
Yardo, yardo,
Debil in the yardo
Yeah, debil in the yard-o!
Yard-o, yard-o,
Devil in the yard-o
Yeah, devil in the yard-o,
Master didn't leave no money,
Mistress has me look for money,
Yeah, devil in the yard-o!
Yard-o, yard-o,
Devil in the yard-o,
Yeah, devil in the yard-o
Yard-o, yard-o,
Devil in the yard-o,
Yeah, devil in the yard-o!
Master didn't leave no money,
Mistress has me work for money,
Yeah, devil in the yard-o!
Yard-o, yard-o,
Bell rings in the yard-o*
Yeah, bell rings in the yard-o
Yard-o, yard-o,
Bell rings in the yard-o
Yeah, bell rings in the yard-o!
Master didn't leave no money,
Mistress said to work for something,
Yeah, devil in the yard-o
Yard-o yard-o
Devil in the yard-o
Yeah, devil in the yard-o!
Yard-o, yard-o,
Devil in the yard-o,
Yeah, devil in the yard-o!
Notes
*Re. "Bella ringa yardo" - "Bell rings in the yard-o" is our best guess for the meaning of this line.
Comments
Learn more about Shanties in Barouaille in the pdf here.
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
The lyrics to this song can vary a little depending upon the singer. Lyrics given here are as those sung by the group The Barouaille Whalers (in the YouTube video).
Image: Dancing with the devil. French.
