During the Great Depression of the 1930s, because of the collapse of the international economy, fishermen, including Emberley, were unable to sell their fish; many were reduced to living on the government dole, which was six cents a day.
In 1936, Emberly adapted the English song, "Rigs of the Times", to reflect the fishermen's plight.
[2][3] The Emberley version was recorded by Dick Nolan,[4] and was published in Edith Fowke's The Penguin Book of Canadian Folk Songs (Harmondsworth, England, 1973).
Go out in the mornin', go on if it's still, It's over the side you'll hear the line knell; For out goes the jigger and freezes the cold, And as for the startings all gone in the hole.
Then next comes the doctor the worst one of all, Saying what is the matter with you all this Fall; Says he will cure you of all your disease, When the money he's got you can die if you please.