Canadee-i-o, otherwise called True Blue, sung and played by Gavin Atkin. Naturally, it’s a classic traditional song about sailors and sweethearts – in just six short verses it manages to include innocence, romance, deception, a conspiracy to murder, fear of retribution, women dressing up as men, and sailing to an exotic foreign country.
My thanks to Andy Turner of A Folk Song A Week who pointed me to this little gem, which Francis Collinson collected from Mr Newport of Boughton Aluph, Kent…
Andy’s transcription of Mr Newport’s song is available here.