The Fiddler's Gift

Happy Halloween! I wrote this tune a number of years ago based on a story that my Grandfather Maurice used to tell. The song tells the story of a real fiddler from Tracadie area who was known to experience premonitions.

Click here to listen to my grandfather tell the story

Click here to listen to the song

Lyrics

Mathias McGinnis, from Blooming Point was he

A fiddler at the parties ‘round the bay of Tracadie

And though the neighbours christened him the finest of musicians

Behind closed doors they whispered of his ghostly premonitions

Mathias walked to the general store one morning with a chap

When all at once he turned right pale and lifted off his cap

His friend asked “What’s the matter?” And Mathias in dismay

Said “Don’t you see the horse and hearse a comin’ down the way?”

Within the week the toll of church bells echoed ‘round the bay

Mathias had foreseen it, and someone had passed away

One night at Old Macaulay’s, a big soiree was on

Mathias was a-fiddlin’, hired to play until the dawn

But suddenly he stopped his bow, and would not play no more

He asked Macaulay for his coat and headed for door

“Did somebody insult you?” asked Macaulay quite confused

Mathias said “If you had seen what I’ve seen you’d leave too.

I saw six ghostly caskets, as plain as the midday sun

Floating slowly out the parlour window one by one.”

 Within the year six Macaulay’s of that house fell dead.

The coffins, too wide for the door, were brought through the window instead.