Lyr Req: Humane Society (Dillon Bustin)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Humane Society (Dillon Bustin)
From: GUEST,sciencegeek
Date: 15 Jun 24 - 03:30 PM

a big thank you to David Coffin who recorded Bustins' Humane Society song on his album Safe in the Harbour

Here is his website:

https://davidcoffin.com/shop/

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Humane Society (Dillon Bustin)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 07:49 AM

Another "keeper" from Dillon Bustin.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dillon Bustin / Lifesavers of Port Ju
From: GUEST,sciencegeek
Date: 18 Mar 06 - 06:18 PM

thanks ever so much.


My husband was at the north end of the seaport grounds listening to Dillon, while I was at the village green. (the sea music festival is really great - can involve a whole lot of racing around LOL). As a result I never go to hear the song or the background story - just Mike's lament about not being able to buy the tape, etc. So I didn't get all the details right....'tis true.

I hope we can repay the favor and provide lyrics for a future request.


thanks again, Chris

Subject: Lyr Add: HUMANE SOCIETY (Dillon Bustin)
From: MRyer
Date: 18 Mar 06 - 03:14 PM

I don't think I've seen this in print. I learned it a number of years ago from a tape that Dillon had distributed for a play about Martha's Vineyard, MA that he was producing.

It's not likely that I have the words 100% correct, but it's the way I sing it and remember it. The tape is packed away in some box out in the garage from moving recently. I hope this helps for now. Maybe Dillon will post the correct version.

I remember Dillon saying that the "Humane Society" was the name that the lifesaving associations along the shores of New England were organized under. He also said that the Wampanoag (I think) Indians on Martha's Vinyard were the only lifesaving volunteers on the Island at that time. I remember he said that the demise of the ship "The City of Columbus" happened around 1900. I think I remember him saying that generally the relationship between the islanders and the Indians was good, but at this particular time in history there were some problems. (I hope Dillon writes and straightens this whole thing out.)

And, I love this song.



The Humane Society

        Words and music by Dillon Bustin


Come, listen to the news
Of the City of Columbus and her pleasure cruise
To Florida from Boston sailed
Smack into a winter's gale
With freezing rain and frozen hail

CHO: 'Tis true.

And, at the Gay Head light,
The keeper there awoke to face a fearsome sight
On Devil's Bridge she'd run aground
The breakers playing lost and found
With the drowning and the drowned.

'Tis true.

And he sent out a plea,
To the worthy men of the Humane Society,
The call went out both loud and clear
To us, lifesaving volunteers.
And I could see my duty clear.

'Tis true.

My boots left on the ice,
The socks my mother knitted me they would suffice
Don't need my boots to weigh me down
If it is my day to drown
My brother there could use the pair.

'Tis true.

Six men to a boat,
The call to pull away it came as from one throat
As if one hand did time the oars
Our backs turned to the ocean's roar,
The surf did throw us back once more

'Tis true.

Our steersman gave a shout:
Each able bodied man to leap right out
Heave the boat along the side
Force her though the surging tide.
Soaked to the skin, we launched her in

'Tis true.

And froze up to our necks,
We rowed for love of life out to that sinking wreck
Some were lashed onto the mast,
Some in the rigging holding fast,
Praying not to be the last.

'Tis true.

And, how to understand
These gentlemen who do not shake an Indian's hand?
To meet on any other day
Would not have one word to say
Were reaching out as they did pray.

'Tis true.

Some twenty-nine we saved
One hundred three did perish beneath the waves
The bloated bodies of the dead
Washed on the beaches of Gay Head
Like stranded whales to no avail.

'Tis true.

Now, we're heroic men,
With medals and with money for our courage then
The centuries most tragic wreck
The rescued ones do not suspect,
We do it for our self respect.

'Tis true.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dillon Bustin / Lifesavers of Port Ju
From: GUEST,sciencegeek
Date: 17 Mar 06 - 09:08 PM

to M Ryer - i think that you have the song my husband is looking for. do you know where to find those lyrics? My goggle search for both Dillon and humane society didn't go so well. thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dillon Bustin / Lifesavers of Port Judi
From: Peace
Date: 16 Mar 06 - 07:48 PM

Emerson Umbrella Center for the Arts in Concord

He is the director. Try a Google and maybe you can ask directly.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dillon Bustin / Lifesavers of Port Judi
From: MRyer
Date: 16 Mar 06 - 07:24 PM

Hi sciencegeek,

I'm afraid I don't know of your exact song, but I thought you might be interested to know that Dillon Bustin has also written a wonderful ballad, "The Humane Society" which also deals with Martha's Vinyard Indians who, around the 1900's, almost exclusively manned the life boats on that Island. It concerns the loss of the "City of Columbus" out of Boston near the island.

I was also thinking that your song might be about "Point Judith" instead of "Port Judith". Point Judith is along the southern coast of Rhode Island.

In any event, good luck with your quest.

Subject: Lyr Req: Dillon Bustin / Lifesavers of Port Judi
From: sciencegeek
Date: 16 Mar 06 - 03:47 PM

Dillon Bustin recorded a song about the Native Americans who manned the life boats/water rescue teams out of Port Judith. The title might be "the lifesavers of Port Judith".   We have been unable to locate the tape ( don't know the title of that either) and would really like to find the album or at least the song lyrics.

Dillon sang the song at a workshop during the Mystic Sea Music festival and the museum store was sold out of the tape by the time my husband could get there. thanks