Stan Rogers was a GOD!!!!!!!!!!!

Just thought I'd mention that.

Oh, and just to reinforce the point:

NORTHWEST PASSAGE

1: Westward from the Davis Strait 'tis there 'twas said to lie
The sea route to the Orient for which so many died;
Seeking gold and glory, leaving weathered, broken bones
And a long-forgotten lonely cairn of stones.

Ah, for just one time I would take the Northwest Passage
To find the hand of Franklin reaching for the Beaufort Sea;
Tracing one warm line through a land so wild and savage
And make a Northwest Passage to the sea.

2: Three centuries thereafter, I take passage overland
In the footsteps of brave Kelso, where his "sea of flowers" began
Watching cities rise before me, then behind me sink again
This tardiest explorer, driving hard across the plain.

Ah, for just one time I would take the Northwest Passage
To find the hand of Franklin reaching for the Beaufort Sea;
Tracing one warm line through a land so wild and savage
And make a Northwest Passage to the sea.

3: And through the night, behind the wheel, the mileage clicking west
I think upon Mackenzie, David Thompson and the rest
Who cracked the mountain ramparts and did show a path for me
To race the roaring Fraser to the sea.

Ah, for just one time I would take the Northwest Passage
To find the hand of Franklin reaching for the Beaufort Sea;
Tracing one warm line through a land so wild and savage
And make a Northwest Passage to the sea.

4: How then am I so different from the first men through this way?
Like them, I left a settled life, I threw it all away.
To seek a Northwest Passage at the call of many men
To find there but the road back home again.

Ah, for just one time I would take the Northwest Passage
To find the hand of Franklin reaching for the Beaufort Sea;
Tracing one warm line through a land so wild and savage
And make a Northwest Passage to the sea.

:cry: :toast: :applause: :loveya: :woohoo: :thumbsup:

I can never listen to that song without wanting to have a good cry.

Did you know that it's Stan doing all the voices in the chorus?

He said that he wrote the song in a few hours when he was a few minutes short for an album he was recording. When he showed the text to his producer, the guy read it and burst into tears.

I was listening to one of his CDs this evening and was so moved by how utterly heartfelt his music was. He was a real treasure.

:toast: :cry:

A number of passengers on that plane spoke of being literally thrown out of it by a big bald guy.

I thought it was Garnet doing the high part.

One of the things I like about Stan Rogers is that he's ours alone, and always will be. I wonder what might have happened if his music had been homogenized for the American market? Would it have lost its explicit Canadianness? This man sang the soul of our country.

One thing for sure, I don't think "Barret's Privateers" would have been a big hit south of the border.

That was a relative quickie for Fogerty's Cove Records. The "Northwest Passage" CD shows four vocalists, including Garnet.

Someone told me that "Northwest Passage" was once voted the "Most Canadian" popular song. :toast:

By the way, I'm a 1990 immigrant from the US, and you're right--Stan was virtually unknown there; I had to move up here to discover him. Another of Canada's best-kept secrets!

...worked every time. I miss Stan.

My fav Roger's song is of course

Barrett's Privateers - Stan Rogers




O the year was 1778
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
A letter of marque came from the king
To the scummiest vessel I've ever seen

(chorus)
God damn them all
I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold
We'd fire no guns, shed no tears
Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier,
The last of Barrett's Privateers

2. O Elcid Barrett cried the town
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
For twenty brave men all fishermen who
Would make for him the Antelope's crew
God damn them all . . . .

3. The Antelope sloop was a sickening site
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
She'd list to the port and her sails in rags
And the cook in the scuppers with the staggers and jags
God damn them all . . . .

4. On the King's birthday we put to sea
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
Ninety-one days to Montego Bay
Pumping like madmen all the way
God damn them all . . . .

5. On the ninety-sixth day we sailed again
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
When a great big Yankee hove in sight
With our cracked four-pounders we made to fight
God damn them all . . . .

6. The Yankee lay low down with gold
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
She was broad and fat and loose in stays
But to catch her took the Antelope two whole days
God damn them all . . . .

7. Then at length she stood two cables away
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
Our cracked four-pounders made awful din
But with one fat ball the Yank stove us in
God damn them all . . . .

8. The Antelope shook and pitched on her side
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
Barrett was smashed like a bowl of eggs
And the main truck carried off both me legs
God damn them all . . . .

9. Now here I lay in my twenty-third year
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
It's been six years since we sailed away
And I just made Halifax yesterday
God damn them all . . . .


Brilliant!!!
His Live version is profoundly moving as the Maritime audience knows every word

And we stopped in Sherbrook. The first thing I asked a local was if this was the town mentioned in the song.

He said yes, it was, in fact a big selling point for tourists.

Thanks for the lyrics. I've got to memorize them.

:hi: