1. |
Once More A-Lumb'ring Go
04:49
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Come all you sons of freedom And listen to my theme
Come all you roving lumberjacks that run the Saginaw stream
We’ll cross the Tittabawassee Where the mighty waters roll
and we’ll roam the wild woods over and once more a-lumb’ring go
and once more a-lumb’ring go
We will roam the wild woods over and once more a-lumb’ring go
When white frost takes the valley and the snow conceals the woods
The lumberjack has enough to do to find his family food
No time he has for pleasure or to hunt the buck and doe
he will roam the wild woods over and once more a-lumb’ring go
and once more a-lumb’ring go
We will roam the wild woods over and once more a-lumb’ring go
With our crosscut saws and axes we will make the woods resound
And many a tall and stately tree will come crashing to the ground
With canthooks on our shoulders and our boot tops deep in snow
We will roam the wild woods over and once more a-lumb’ring go
and once more a-lumb’ring go
We will roam the wild woods over and once more a-lumb’ring go
When navigation opens and the waters run so free
We’ll drive our logs to Saginaw once more our girls to see
They will all be there to welcome and our hearts in raptures flow
We we’ll stay with them through summer
And once more a-lumb’ring go
and once more a-lumb’ring go
We we’ll stay with them through summer
And once more a-lumb’ring go
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2. |
The First Day of April
05:00
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On the first day of April, I’ll never forget
When three English blades together had met
They mounted on horseback and swore bitterly
That they’d play a trick on the first man they’d see
Pat Campbell the Drover they happened to spy
He came from Tyrone, a place called Dun Moy
They saluted Campbell, when he’d done the same
In close conversation together they came
They rode right along and they made a full stop
They called upon Patty for to take a drop
Patty consented and said with smile
“I long for to taste the good ale from Carlisle”
They ate and they drank and the sported as well
‘Til 48 schillings to pay for the bill
Likewise for their horses some oats and good hay
They thought they’d leave Patty the reckoning to pay
Out of the house one by one then they stole
They thought they’d leave Patty to pay for the whole
The landlord came in and this he did say
“I’m afraid, Irish Pat, they’ve a trick on you played”
“Oh, never mind them,” says Pat, “though they’re away
I’ve plenty of money the reckoning to pay
If you’ll sit beside me before that I go
I’ll tell you a secret perhaps you don’t know
“I’ll tell you a secret contrary to law
That two kinds of wine from one puncheon I’ll draw”
The landlord was eager to find out that plan
And away to the cellar with Patty he ran
He bored a hole in a very short space
He bade the landlord his thumb on that place
The next one he bored, “Place the other one there
and I for a tumbler will go up the stair”
Pat mounted his horse and was soon out of sight
The horser came in to see if all was right
They hunted the house from the top to ground
Half-dead in the cellar the master they found
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3. |
Clifton's Crew
04:28
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Our captain Emmet Gallagher, a boy so brave and young
At his parents home they now know the tidings of their son;
it is now the pangs of sorrow that will pierce a mother’s heart.
As she learns the day has come so soon, her boy from her must part.
Twas but a few short weeks before, when Emmet he had said,
“There’s a place on in Lake Huron that will not give up its dead;
its called a sailor’s grave-yard words he was known to say;
As he laid out on the Clifton’s deck, he showed them where it lay.
We had there three more friends of ours, out in this com-pan-y,
Brought up on Beaver Island and had followed up the sea;
Twas Anthony McDonough, Joe Shied and Peter Barns;
We hope to meet them back a-gain, and wish their glad return.
Young Anthony came 8 on board he has sailed the ocean blue
he had come back to the great lakes and had joined the clifton’s crew
to be among companions on his early boyhood days
he was doomed like many more on board to fill a sailor’s grave
Among the four companions on the clifton that were drowned
joe shied he was the only one of them was ever found
their lifeless forms in silence now are drifting far and wide
til they waste away from day to day and wear with time and tide
Their fathers they will not forget that day so sad and long,
When their thoughts were of the Clifton and their dear boys that are gone.
Also, their sisters they will weep and mourn their brothers dear,
Whose smiles they’ll never more behold, their saddened hearts to cheer…
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4. |
Budd Lake Plains
04:54
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One day last December Sam Anders and me
Went up to Mt. Pleasant, to cook in the woods
We hired in Mt. Pleasant and took the first train
For Frank Young’s lumbering camp up around Budd Lake plains
La-lay fond du a yahdee; Whack too-roo li-yay
We all got to camp on a cold stormy day
The foreman he asked me how long I could stay
“Three months and a half I’m supposed to remain
In this hotel of yours up around Budd Lake plains.
He took me to cook camp and rigged me out neat
An old stove, two kettles, a full rig complete
Oh, that was well done. We were not at all vain,
For we had poor damn grub up around Budd Lake plains.
The grub we had there it was not very nice:
There was bread and molasses and codfish and rice.
Oh, that was well done. We were not at all vain;
Many a poor mule’s been killed up around Budd Lake plains.
One day as Young Peggy stood mixing some dough
The bald-headed Turk unto him did say,
Now, Peggy, that laughing, Don’t do it again.
Or it’s twelve days in the dungeon up around Budd Lake plains.”
For twelve dreary days in that place I did stay.
With twelve pounds of pork and some flour I saved
Until one fine morning my discharge did came
I bid adieu to old Harrison, likewise Budd Lake plains.
Oh, it’s now to conclude and to finish my rhyme
For to sing anymore boys I don’t feel inclined
For since I’ve got out I won’t go back again
For they wear striped pants up around Budd Lake plains
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5. |
Once I Loved
04:50
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Oh once I loved with fond affection
One whose heart was dear to me
But then there came that solemn parting
Nevermore will she speak to me
For now she’s gone and loved another
One who has bright gold in store
While I, a young man lie a’weeping,
Left alone because I’m poor
So go and leave me if you with to
Don’t ever let me cross your mind
And if you think I’ve proved unworthy
Go and leave me, go and leave me… I don’t mind
Many’s the mile with you I’d tarry
Many’s the hour with you I’d spend
I thought that you were mine forever
But love, I’ve found, has a cruel end
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6. |
The Rover
03:03
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I’m a Rover that’s my name
I’m gonna leave my native land
Leave my dear old girl behind
What I’m told your heart was mine
she lies folded in my arms
I thought she was ten thousand charms
With thoughtful eyes and a kiss so sweet
sayin we’ll get married next time we meet
As he went sailing o’er the sea
He took his comfort and his ease
for writing letters to his dear
but not one word from her did hear
As he rode up to her father’s hall
and loudly for his love did call
Her father made him this reply
my daughter she’s married to a secret boy
I ask again what this did mean
Oh he answered me all in her name
My daughter she’s married to a richer class
so you can seek for another lass
Oh curse to the gold and the silver too
it’s curse to the girl who once was true
that will her own true promise break
and marry another for a richer state
Since I have lost my golden crown
I’ll sail the ocean round and round
I’ll sail the seas till the day I die
I’ll slip away for the bullets fly
The other day as I went by
I thought I heard the angels cry
but only this that I did see
she was a weeping there for me
O willy willy stay at home
for loves don’t go the towards the raging foam
for loves don’t go where the bullet’s fly
for there’s many a richer lad than I
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7. |
Wild Mustard River
03:38
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Down by the Wild Mustard River, Down by the old Emrick Dam,
We arose from our blankets one morning
to flood from the resevoir dam.
When the waters come rustling and rolling, Our peaveys and pikes we’d apply, Not thinking that one of our number
this day had so horr’ bly to die.
Wild Mustard River!
On the river there’s none any better,
On a log than our friend Johnny Styles.
He had worked there more than any other,
But he always was reckless and wild.
But today his luck went against him, His foot it was caught in the jam;
And you know how that creek runs a howling
when you flood from the resevoir dam
We worked for an hour and a quarter, We worked till our time come to spare. And we had a hole well worked through her
When like lightning she hauled out of there.
We rode her down and pulled up in dead water;
We worked till the sweat down us poured;
We pulled his dead body from in under,
But it looked like poor Johnny no more.
His flesh was all cut up in ringlets And rolled out as flat as your hand.
We’ll hold peace on this earth for his body
While the Lord holds his soul in command.
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8. |
The Falling of the Pines
04:11
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You Irishmen that wanted, Oh you Irish hearts undaunted
Return unto the shanty-o before your youth’s decline
For the spectators they will ponder,
And they’ll look upon us with wonder.
Our noise succeeds the thunder when we go and fall the pine.
The shanty is our station and it is our occupation
Each man is at his station oh some to score and line
Oh when its eight foot of a block, We’ll chip out at every knock
And we’ll cause the woods to shock at the falling of the pine.
Just as the day is breaking, from our slumbers we’re awaking
Our breakfast we have taken, our axes we’ll go grind,
Oh far in the woods advance, where our axes clear do glance,
Like brothers we’ll advance, and we’ll go and fall the pine.
It’s now the winter is finished, from our shanties we’re diminished,
From our shanties we’re diminished all for a little time,
When its far apart we’re scattered,
until to the blooms we’re gathered,
Where we’ll collect our timbers in some handsome rafts of pine.
When we get to Quebec, Brave boys, we won’t forget.
Our whistles for to wet with some whiskey and good wine.
And with glee we’ll boast about, ‘Till our money’s all run out.
Then, brave boys, we won’t refuse for to go and fall the pine.
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9. |
Flat River Darling
04:11
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My name is Jack Haggerty where the white waters flow
My name is engraved on the rocks of the shore
I’m a boy that stands happy on a log in the stream
My heart was with Hannah, she haunted my dreams
I gave her rich jewels and the finest of lace
With the costliest of muslins ‘twas her I would embrace
I gave her my wages for her to keep safe
Begrudging her nothing that I had myself
One day on the river a letter I received
That from her own promises herself she had relieved
She would wed a young man, a long time delayed
And the next time I’d see her she’d not be a maid
So adieu to Flat River, for me there’s no rest
I’ll shoulder my peavey and I’ll go out west
I’ll go Muskegon, some pleasure to find
and I’ll my own Flat River darling behind
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10. |
Don't Judge A Man
03:55
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Don’t judge a man by the cost of his clothing
Unheeding the life path that he may pursue
Or oft you’ll admire a heart that needs loathing,
And fail to give honor where honor is due
Oh the palm may be hard and the fingers disjointed
The coat may be tatter’d, the cheek worn with cares
For there’s many a true heart beneath rags lies beating
So You can’t judge a man by the coat that he wears
Oh, don’t judge a man, by the coat that he wears…
Oh, don’t judge a man, by the coat that he wears…
Then give me a man as a friend or a neighbor
That toils with the loom or the spade or the plow
And earns his diploma by manual labor
And purchase his wealth by the sweat of his brow
Then why should the broadcloth alone be respected
And a man be despised who in Fustian appears?
While the angels in heaven wear their limbs unprotected
You can’t judge a man by the coat that he wears
If You can’t do a good turn then don’t do a bad one
Oh live and let live be your motto through life
For a kind word or action is as cheap as a bad one
So rend from your bosom all feelings of strife
Let him that has wealth help the starving and needy
For remember that this world is only a spell
For wealth it can purchase your life for a moment
When before he who judge not the coat but the man
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11. |
Fare Thee Well
05:39
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“Fare thee well, my dearest dear since I must leave you
I can no longer stay, I must go from you”
“Oh, I shall pine and die if you go from me
So stay at home my Dear, and do not leave me”
“Why would you go to sea to fight for strangers
When you could stay. at home free from all dangers
I’ll enfold you in my arms, my dearest jewel
And I’ll keep you from all hards. Love, do not be cruel”
Then on her knees she fell, like on a’dying
And spread her arms abroad and this replying
“Awake you rocks and stones that is now relenting
All for the sake of one I die lamenting”
“Fare thee well you parents dear, Father and Mother
You have lost your daughter dear, I have no other
It’s vain to weep for me, for I am going
Where joys forever be and fountains flowing”
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Michigan-IO Michigan
Michigan-I-O is
a collection of forgotten folk songs from Michigan and Great Lakes region, re-imagined in a contemporary style.
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