(Dem da) LIGHT & POWER B'YS
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Time signature: 4/4
Tempo: lively (nearly 200 bpm) |
Bill Luffman
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This page is under construction! Everything needs to be checked.!
An Accordion Tune To Learn "BY EAR"
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Lyrics
Verse 1 Verse 2 Verse 3 Verse 4 |
Dem big blue trucks, dem roll tru' town, Dem checkin to see if any wires blowed down, Dem da Light and Power b'ys. (Dem the Light and Power b'ys.) Dem rough and tough, dem don't mind da cold, Dem driving along, dem checkin every pole, Dem da Light and Power b'ys. Dem come from far, dem come from near, Dem gather every morning down in Carbonear, Dem da Light and Power b'ys. (Dem da Light and Power b'ys.) Dem pass my place about quarter to nine, Dem gone all day, dem checking the lines, Dem da Light and Power b'ys. Dem have machines to dig a hole, It don't take dem long to stick a forty foot pole Dem da Light and Power b'ys. (Dem da Light and Power b'ys.) Dem on stand-by day and night To make sure we don't lose our light, Dem da Light and Power b'ys. Rain or shine, sleet or snow, Twelve months a year they're on the go, Dem da Light and Power b'ys. (Dem da Light and Power b'ys.) A thunder storm they don't mind that, They climb the poles like a pussy cat, Dem da Light and Power b'ys. |
Embedded youTube VIDEOS
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Key: G
Singer & composer: Bill Luffman Posted by: burmoose 1. There is a brief musical insert at end of each verse, including a repeat of the last line of the verse 2. Guitar players using Chordify for this song should note that the key is G (not D, as stated by Chordify). |
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Key: G
Group: ? Posted by: 3vuesaturn Opens with a tribute to late Bill Luffman. Then the music begins - at time 0:32 They omit Verse 1 (above). |
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Key: G
Singer & composer: Bill Luffman Posted by: Tilleypaul Live performance at the 2008 Terra Nova Park Folk Festival. Some of the lyrics are missing from this video. Video does not include the repeat (Dem da light ...) in the 3rd line of each verse. Chordify shows this in 3/4 time. |
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GUITAR (CHORD) NOTATION - 2nd draft
This is my second attempt at guitar chords for this song, aided by the first two you-tube videos (above) and by Chordify. The musical key for each video above is G major.
Key of G chords shown in red. To sound in keys of Ab, A, Bb or B, place capo at fret 1, 2, 3 or 4
Key of C chords shown in black. To sound in Db, D, Eb, E, F or F#, place at fret 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6
Key of G chords shown in red. To sound in keys of Ab, A, Bb or B, place capo at fret 1, 2, 3 or 4
Key of C chords shown in black. To sound in Db, D, Eb, E, F or F#, place at fret 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6
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V
e r s e 1 V e r s e 2 V e r s e 3 V e r s e 4 |
G
C G C G C G C |
Dem big blue trucks, dem roll tru town, Dem checkin to see if any wires blowed down, C G F C Dem da Light an' Power b'ys. (Dem da Light an' Power b'ys.) D7 G7 Dem rough n' tough, dem don't mind da cold, Dem drivin along, dem checkin ev'ry pole, D G G C Dem da Light an' Power b'ys. (Instrumental repeat) Dem come from far, dem come from near, Dem gather every morning down in Carbonear, C G F C Dem da Light an' Power b'ys. (Dem da Light an' Power b'ys.) D7 G7 Dem pass my place about quarter to nine, Dem gone all day, dem checking the lines, D G G C Dem da Light an' Power b'ys. (Instrumental repeat) Dem have machines to dig a hole. It don't take dem long to stick a forty foot pole. C G F C Dem da Light an' Power b'ys. (Dem da Light an' Power b'ys.) D7 G7 Dem on stand-by, day and night to make sure we don't lose our lights, D G G C Dem da Light an' Power b'ys. (Instrumental repeat) Rain or shine, sleet or snow, twelve months a year they're on the go, C G F C Dem da Light an' Power b'ys. (Dem da Light an' Power b'ys.) D7 G7 A thunder storm they don't mind that. Dey climb the poles like a pussy cat, D G G C Dem da Light an' Power b'ys. (Instrumental repeat) |
Background Information & Links
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About Bill Luffman
(1934 - 2019) 
'Light & Power' truck behind the hearse outside St. Paul's Anglican Church at Mr. Luffman's funeral in 2019. (Photo by Harbour Grace Councillor Sonia Williams, on the VOCM web site)
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Mr. Luffman was a prominent and highly regarded resident of Harbour Grace, NL. He began working at the Koch Shoe Factory in that town in 1953, and opened his own shoe-repair business in 1969. In addition to his skill as a cobbler, he was well known for his civic mindedness, and for his music as a composer and performer. He was known locally as "Da Singin' Cobbler".
One of his best known songs, "Dem Light & Power B'ys", is a brilliant, sincere and humorous tribute to the folks who brave the elements to keep our homes lit and heated, especially during and after severe winter snow and sleet storms. This song received extensive radio play after Eastern Newfoundland's recent record-breaking storm ('stormageddon') in January of 2020. Click HERE for more biographical (1993) information on Mr. Luffman ... (From the Conception Bay Museum files) |