#lee murdock

[clove-pinks]

I know it's Gordon Lightfoot's time right now, but I want to shine a light on another bard of the Great Lakes: Lee Murdock.

He does a fantastic version of 'Red Iron Ore' followed by a cover of 'The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald'. (Also on Spotify).

[pyro-hairedguy]

So @theiceandbones​ tagged me to post the first 10 songs from my spotify on shuffle, but because I’m a dinosaur and my spotify only has a playlist of very specific tracks, you get my phone library on shuffle.

1: Spanish Moss - Gordon Lightfoot

2: Working on the Highway - Bruce Springsteen

3: Why Don’t a Tow Truck Haul Toes? - Larry Penn

4: My Hometown - Bruce Springsteen

5: Casey Jones - Pete Seeger

6: Wabash Cannonball - The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

7: The Maple on the Hill - Norman Blake

8: The Idiot - Musical Cast Recording from Stan Rogers: A Matter of Heart Musical Revue

9: Reuben You Can Play Your Banjo - Mark Dvorak

10: Zack, The Mormon Engineer - Art Theime

Bonus, because The Boss appeared twice: 11: Song of the Candle - Stan Rogers (Recorded from a live performance at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, Illinois)

I dunno, @pahrak-the-sinnoh-slizer @autisticmight @naturallyaspirated @saccharine-catherine, y’all like these, right?

[clove-pinks]

I'm listening to "Perry's Victory On Lake Erie" on repeat and while this song is fire, it also feels like a prime candidate for "readers added context" style fact checking.

Columbian tars are the true sons of Mars, who rake fore and aft when they fight on the deep.

On the bed of Lake Erie, commanded by Perry, they caused many Britons to take their last sleep.

💬 Readers added context they thought people might want to know. The average depth of Lake Erie is only about 19 metres (62 feet).

(See also "the whole British fleet, was captured complete"; and claiming that Perry is better than Nelson and Rodney).

Not only did Oliver Hazard Perry have a huge advantage in broadside weight over the British (far from being an underdog as the song implies), but allegedly he made poor tactical decisions and was saved by Perry's Luck, a very favourable change of wind. So he won the Battle of Lake Erie in part because of an act of God and/or spiritual forces of Lake Erie, I'm just sayin.

The naval history channel Drachinifel made a great youtube video called "War of 1812 - Freshwater Edition."

While I think there is some excessive clowning on the size of the Great Lakes compared to the open ocean—never mind that there was also a naval battle on Lake Champlain, which is vastly smaller than Lake Erie—the video does make clear that the lake-going ships did not need to be built to the same level of sturdiness as ocean-going vessels. And they used this weight advantage in construction for More Gun, making the Great Lakes naval battles of the War of 1812 huge artillery showdowns.

[clove-pinks]

I wonder if known James Fenimore Cooper fan Henry T.D. Le Vesconte read Ned Myers, or, a Life Before the Mast??

I (stupid) only just learned that this is the inspiration for Lee Murdock's banger song:

[clove-pinks]

Perry's Victory on Lake Erie

The best version by Lee Murdock (on The Lost Lake Sailors album) of "Perry's Victory On Lake Erie" is also on YouTube, if you don't have Spotify.

I've searched in vain for the lyrics and finally ended up transcribing them myself! Feat. USAmericans consistently called "Columbians" and some potent nationalism.

--

You tars of Columbia give ears to my story

Who fought with brave Perry, whose cannon did roar:

Your valor has gained you an immortal glory, and fame that will last until time is no more.

On the tenth of September let us all remember, as long as the globe on its axis reels round,

Our tars and marines on Lake Erie were seen

To make the red flag of proud Britain come down.

Columbian tars are the true sons of Mars, who rake fore and aft when they fight on the deep.

On the bed of Lake Erie, commanded by Perry, they caused many Britons to take their last sleep.

The van of our fleet was brought up complete,

Commanded by Perry the Lawrence bore down.

Our guns they did roar such terrific power, that savages trembled at that dreadful sound.

The Lawrence sustained the most dreadful of fire, she fought three to one for two glasses or more,

whilst Perry undaunted did firmly stand by her, and on the proud foe heavy broadsides did pour.

Her masts being shattered, her rigging all tattered, her sails all in ribbons her wheel shot away—

With few left on deck to manage the wreck, our heroes on board her no longer would stay.

There was one gallant act of our noble commander, whilst writing my song I shall notice with pride:

When launching the smack that carried his standard, the ball whistled through her quite close by his side.

Said Perry, "Those villains intend sure to drownded us, but push on my brave boys you need never fear."

And then with his coat he plugged up the boat, and through sulfur and fire away he did steer.

The famed Niagara, now proud of her Perry, displayed all her banners in gallant array,

While twenty-five guns on board she did carry, which soon put an end to this sad bloody fray. 

The fire of the Britons grew shorter and shorter, the signal was given to break through their line.

While starboard to larboard and from every quarter, 

The guns of Columbia gloriously shine.

In the heat of the battle, whose cannon did rattle, on the Lawrence, a wreck, with her men near all slain, 

Brave Elliott did steer as they brought up the rear, and by this grand manoeuvre the victory was gained.

Oh had you been there, I vow and declare, that such a grand sight you had ne'er saw before! 

When six bloody flags that no longer would wave, were laid at the feet of our brave Commodore. 

The whole British fleet was captured complete, not one single vessel from us got away.

And prisoners, some hundreds, Columbians wondered, to see them all anchored and moored on the bay.

Great Britain may boast of her conquering heroes, 

her Rodneys her Nelsons and all the old crew,

But Rome in her glory ne'er told such a story

Nor boasted such feats as Columbians can do.

So Columbians sing, and make the woods ring,

And toast those brave heroes, by sea and by land.

Whilst Britons drink sherry, let us drink to Perry,

And toss it about with a full glass in hand.

Columbians sing and make the woods ring, and toast those brave heroes by sea and by land,

Whilst Britons drink sherry, let us drink to Perry!

And toss it about with a full glass in hand.

[clove-pinks]

I finally managed to get this song out of my head, but recent developments have me back on Perry's Victory

[clove-pinks]

The famed Niagara, now proud of her Perry,

Display'd all her banners in gallant array,

And twenty-five guns on her deck she did carry,

Which soon put an end to this dreadful affray.

— "Perry's Victory", traditional.

[clove-pinks]

Someday when I am long gone, at my eternal rest, 

As other men find other ways for power to contest,

Think on the Scourge and Hamilton, warships among the best,

Who battled what they could not win: both time, and nature's test.

— Lee Murdock, "The Ballad of Ned Meyers" (Doused the Royal Ensign playlist)

Hamilton and Scourge Wreck Site, Lake Ontario