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Dan McGinnis, Minnesota, Nineteenth Century
Read more at www.folkswitch.com/journal/jack-haggerty/
Jack Haggerty
I’m a heartbroken raftsman, from Greenville I came
All my virtue’s departed with a lass I did fain
From the strong darts of Cupid I’ve suffered much grief
And my heart’s broke asunder, I can get no relief.
Of my trouble I’ll tell you without much delay
Of a sweet little lassie my heart stole away
She’s a blacksmith’s fair daughter from the flat river side
And I always intended to make her my bride.
I work on the river where the white waters roar
And my name I’ve engraved on the high rocky shore
I’m the boy that stands happy on the dark, burling stream
But my thoughts were on Molly, she haunted my dream.
I gave her fine jewels, the finest of lace
And the costliest muslins, her form to embrace
I gave her my wages all for to keep safe
I deprived her of nothing I had on this earth.
While I worked on the river, I earned quite a stake
I was steadfast and steady, and ne’er played the rake
For Camp Flat and river I’m very well known
And they call me Jack Haggerty, the pride of the town.
Till she wrote me a letter, which I did receive
And she said from her promise herself she’d relieve
For to wed to another she’d a long time delayed
And the next time I’d see her she’d no more be a maid.
To her mother, Jane Tucker, I lay all the blame
For she caused her to leave and go back on my name
For to cast off the riggings that God was to tie
And to leave me a rambler ’til the day that I die
So come all ye bold raftsmen with hearts stout and true
Don’t trust to a woman ’cause you’re beat if you do
And if you do meet one with a dark chestnut curl
Remember Jack Haggerty and the Flat River girl!
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2. |
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Nineteen Years Old (The Virgin)
As I was walking down by the Strand
I met a young lady all dressed up so grand
With features of finery and jewels set in gold
Said she was a maiden, just nineteen years old
Her fingers were tapered, her neck like a swan
Her head tipped a little, her voice not too strong
In six weeks we were married, the wedding bells tolled
I’d married that maiden, just nineteen years old
After the wedding we retired to rest
I thought I would die when that female undressed
A trunk full of cotton she first did unload
I thought it darned funny for a nineteen year old
She took off her left leg as high as her knee
She took off her fingers, I countered but three
While there on the carpet her glass eye did roll
I thought it darned funny for a nineteen year old
She took off her eyebrows, I thought I would faint
Next from her mug came a carload of paint
She took off her false wig, her old bald head told
I thought it peculiar for a nineteen year old
She took out her teeth, I jumped up in terror
Her chin and her nose fell right in together
Now I’m telling you folks she was a sight to behold
That fair little maiden just nineteen years old
Now all you young fella’s when courting you go
Make sure she is perfect from head to her toe
You’ll pay for your folly, like mine you you’ll be sold
To a patched up old maid about ninety years old
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3. |
On Springfield Mountain
02:42
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On Springfield Mountain
On Springfield Mountain there did dwell
A lovely youth I knowed him well.
This lovely youth one day did go
Down to the meadom for to mow.
He scarce had mowed quite round the field
When a cruel serpent bit his heel.
They took him home to molly dear
Which made him feel so very queer.
Now Molly had two ruby lips
With which the poison she did sip.
Now Molly had a rotting tooth,
And so the poison killed them both.
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4. |
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I Courted A Wee Girl (The Unfaithful Bride)
I courted a wee girl for many’s the long day,
And slighted all others who came in my way.
But now she’s rewarded me to the last day;
She’s gone to be wed to another.
The bride and bride’s party to church they did go.
The bride she rode foremost she put the best show
And I rode behind, my heart filled with woe
To see my love wed to another.
The bride and bride’s party, in church they did stand,
Gold rings on their fingers, a love hand in hand
The man that she’s wed to has houses and land—
He may have her since I could not gain her.
The last time I saw her she was all dressed in white;
The more I gazed on her she dazzled my sight,
So I tipped her my hat and bade her goodnight.
Here’s bad luck to all false-hearted lovers
So dig me a grave and dig it down deep,
And strew it all over with primrose so sweet.
And lay me down in it for no more for to weep,
For love was the cause of my ruin.
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5. |
Fair Fannie Moore
07:50
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Fair Fanny Moore
Down in yonder cottage all forsaken and alone,
Its paths all neglected, with grass overgrown;
Look in and you will see some dark stains upon the floor,
They say it is the blood of the fair Fanny Moore.
To Fanny so blooming two lovers there came,
One offered to Fanny his wealth and his fame;
But neither his houses nor his lands could secure
A place in the heart of the fair Fanny Moore.
The first was young Randal so bold and so proud,
He to the young Fanny his haughty head bowed;
But neither his gold nor his silver could secure
A place in the heart of the fair Fanny Moore.
The next was young Henry of the lowest degree,
He gained her fond heart and in rapture was he;
That night at the altar he was bound for to secure
A place in the heart of the fair Fanny Moore.
As Fanny was sitting in her cottage one day,
And business had called her fond husband away,
Young Randal so haughty came in at the door,
And clasped in his arms the fair Fanny Moore.
Saying, Fanny, oh Fanny, reflect on your fate,
And grant me one favour before it’s too late;
For there is one thing I am bound for to secure,
The love or the life of the fair Fanny Moore.”
“Spare me, oh spare me,” the fair Fanny cried,
While the tears swiftly flowed from her beautiful eyes.
“Go,” said her traitor, “to the land of thy rest.”
And he buried his knife in her snowy-white breast.
Fanny so blooming in her bloody beauty died,
Young Randal was taken, found guilty and tried.
At length he was hung on a tree in front the door,
For shedding the blood of the fair Fanny Moore.
Young Henry the shepherd he ran ‘stracted and wild,
And wandered away from his own native isle;
At length struck by death he was brought to the shore,
And laid by the side of the fair Fanny Moore.
credits
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6. |
Whiskey You're The Devil
04:27
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Whiskey You’re The Devil
Now brave boys, we’re on the march
Off to Portugal and Spain
Drums are beating, banners flying
The Devil at home will come tonight
So it’s go, fare thee well
With a too da loo ra loo ra doo de da
A too ra loo ra loo ra doo de da
Me rikes fall too ra laddie-o
There’s whisky in the jar
Oh, whisky you’re the devil
You’re leading me astray
Over hills and mountains
And to Amerikay
You’re sweetness from the Bleachner
And spunkier than tea
Oh whisky you’re my darling drunk or sober
The French are fighting boldly
Men are dying hot and coldly
Give every man his flask of powder
His firelock on his shoulder
So its go, fare thee well
With a too da loo ra loo ra doo de da
A too ra loo ra loo ra doo de da
Me rikes fall too ra laddie-o
There’s whisky in the jar
Oh, whisky you’re the devil
You’re leading me astray
Over hills and mountains
And to Amerikay
You’re sweetness from the Bleachner
And spunkier than tea
Oh whisky you’re my darling drunk or sober
Says the old wan do not wrong me
Don’t take me daughter from me
For if you do I will torment you
When I’m dead my ghost will haunt you
So its go, fare thee well
With a too da loo ra loo ra doo de da
A too ra loo ra loo ra doo de da
Me rikes fall too ra laddie-o
There’s whisky in the jar
Oh, whisky you’re the devil
You’re leading me astray
Over hills and mountains
And to Amerikay
You’re sweetness from the Bleachner
And spunkier than tea
Oh whisky you’re my darling drunk or sober
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7. |
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Two Recruiting Sergeants
For it’s over the mountain and over the main
Through Gibralta to France and Spain
It’s a feather to your bonnet, a kilt upon your knee
So list bonny laddie and come awa’ wi’ me
Now, twa recruting sergeants came frae the black watch
Through markets and fairs some recruits for to catch
But all that they listed was forty and twa
So list bonny laddie and come awa’ wi’ me
Now, laddie, you canna know the danger that you’re in
If your horses was to fly and your house was to ruin
This greedy, old farmer will na’ pay your fee
So list bonny laddie and come awa’ wi’ me
For its out by the barn and in by the fire
This old farmer thinks he’ll never tire
It’s a slavery job of lowly degree
So list bonny laddie and come awa’ wi’ me
Now, laddie, if you have a sweetheart in the barn
You’ll easy be rid of her ill-spun yarn
Twa rattles on the drum and that will pay it all
So list bonny laddie and come awa’ wi’ me
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8. |
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Lakes of Pontchartrain
It was one fine March morning, I bid New Orleans Adieu
And I took the road to Jackson Town, my fortune to renew
I cursed all foreign money, no credit could I gain
Which filled my heart with a longing for, the Lakes of Ponchartrain
I stepped on board of a railroad car beneath the morning sun
I rode the rods till evening and I laid me down again
All strangers there no friends to me ’til a dark girl towards me came
And I fell in love with the Creole Girl, by the Lakes of Ponchartrain
I said “Me pretty Creole Girl, me money here’s no good,
If it weren’t for the alligators, I’d sleep out there in the wood”
“You’re welcome here kind stranger, Our house is very plain”
“But we never turned a stranger out, by the Lakes of Ponchartrain”
She took me into her mammy’s house and treated me right well
The hair upon her shoulders in jet black ringlets fell
To try and paint her beauty, I’m sure ‘twould be in vain
So handsome was my Creole girl by the Lakes of Ponchartrain
I asked her if she’d marry me, she said that ne’er could be
For she had got a lover and he was far at sea
She said that she would wait for him and true she would remain
Till he’d return to his Creole girl, on the Lakes of Ponchartrain
It’s fare thee well, me Creole girl, I’ll never see you more
I’ll never forget your kindness in the cottage by the shore
And at each social gathering, a flowing bowl I’ll drain
And I’ll drink a health to my Creole girl, by the Lakes of Ponchartrain
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9. |
Scarborough Fair
04:12
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Scarborough Fair
Are you going to Scarborough Fair,
Parley, sage, rosemary and thyme,
Remember me to one who lives there,
She once was a true love of mine
Tell her to make me a cambric shirt,
Parley, sage, rosemary and thyme,
Without no seams nor needlework,
She once was a true love of mine
See for me if her hair hangs long,
Curls and flows, down her breast,
See for me if her hair hangs long,
That’s the way I remember her best
Sometimes I wonder if she remembers me at all,
Many times I’ve often prayed,
In the stillness of my night,
In the darkness of my days.
So if you’re going to Scarborough Fair,
Parley, sage, rosemary and thyme,
Remember me to one who lives there,
She once was a true love of mine
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10. |
Oh Shenendoah
03:48
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Shenandoah
Oh Shenandoah, I long to hear you,
Look Away you rolling river,
Oh Shenandoah I long to hear you,
Away I’m bound away,
‘Cross the wide Missouri
Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter,
Look away you rolling river,
Oh Shenandoah I love your daughter,
Look away I’m bound away,
‘Cross the wide Missouri
Oh Shenandoah, I’m bound to leave you,
Look away you rolling river,
Oh Shenandoah, I’m bound to leave you,
Away I’m bound away, ‘Cross the wide Missouri
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11. |
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Last night I dreamed of my Halley,
Of my Halley, my sweet Halley,
Last night I dreamed of my Halley,
For the thought of her is one that never dies
She's sleeping now in the valley,
In the valley, my sweet Halley,
She's sleeping now in the valley,
And the Mockingbird is singing where she lies
Listen to the Mockingbird, listen to the Mockingbird,
Oh the Mockingbird is singing oe'er her grave,
Listen to the Mockingbird, listen to the Mockingbird,
Still singing where the yellow roses grow
How well do I yet remember,
I remember, I remember,
How well do I yet remember,
For the thought of her is one that never dies
It was in that sweet September,
In September, I remember,
It was in that sweet September,
That the Mockingbird was singing far and wide
Listen to the Mockingbird, listen to the Mockingbird,
Oh the Mocking bird still singing oe'er her grave,
Listen to the Mockingbird, listen to the Mockingbird,
Oh the Mockingbird still singing in the spring
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