Folk and Traditional Song Lyrics:
Peter Amberlay(2)

Peter Amberlay (2)

Peter Amberlay (2)

My name it is Peter Emberly [or Amberlay] I give you to understand
I was born in Prince Edward Island, that fair and virtuous land
In eighteen hundred and eighty, when the flowers were a brilliant hue
I left my native country my fortune to pursue

I landed in New Brunswick, that lumbering country
I hired to work in the lumbering woods down south of the Miramichi
I hired to work in the lumbering woods where they cut the tall spruce down
While loading two sleds from the yard I received my deathly wound.

There's danger on the ocean, where the waves roll mountains high
There's danger on the battlefield, where the angry bullets fly
There's danger in the lumbering woods, for death comes crashing there
And I have fallen victim to that great and deadly snare.

Here's adieu to Prince Edward Island, that garden in the sea
No more I'll walk your flowery banks nor enjoy your salty breeze
No more I'll see those lofty ships as they go sailing by
Their banners floating in the breeze above the canvas high.

ALTERNATIVE LAST VERSE
Here's adieu to Prince Edward Island, and the Island girls so true
Long may they live to roam the shores where my first breath I drew
No more I'll see those gallant ships as they go sailing by
Their banners floating in the breeze above the canvas high.
This is a folk song from eastern Canada, with many variants.  Different
versions were recorded by Ryan's Fancy and Tamarack, the former being fast
and rollicking and the latter slow and mournful.TJ
TJ
oct97