Lyr Add: Breakfast in Hell (Slaid Cleaves)

Subject: Lyr Add: BREAKFAST IN HELL (Slaid Cleaves)
From: SouthernCelt
Date: 22 Jan 08 - 01:20 PM

Since I don't see this song in the db, I thought I'd add it here. It's a modern work but has the trad/folk sound.

BREAKFAST IN HELL
Written and recorded by Slaid Cleaves on his CD 'Broke Down'


In the melting snows of Ontario where the wind'll make you shiver.
'Twas the month of May up in Georgian Bay near the mouth of the Musquash River.
Where the bears prowl and the coyotes howl and you can hear the osprey scream.
Back in '99 we were cutting pine and sending it down the stream.

Young Sandy Gray came to Go Home Bay all the way from P.E.I. (Note - P.E.I. is presumably Prince Edward Island.)
Where the weather's rough and it makes you tough, no man's afraid to die.
Sandy came a smilin', 30,000 Islands was the place to claim his glory.
Now Sandy's gone but his name lives on, and this is Sandy's story.

Chorus One
Young Sandy Gray lives on today in the echoes of a mighty yell.
Listen close and you'll hear a ghost in this story that I tell, boys.
This story that I tell.

Now Sandy Gray was boss of the men who'd toss the trees onto the shore.
They'd come and go till they'd built a floe of 100,000 logs or more.
And he'd ride 'em down toward Severn Sound to cut 'em up in the mills for timber.
And ships would haul, spring, summer, and fall, 'til the ice came in December.

One Sabbath Day, big Sandy Gray came into camp with a peavey on his shoulder.
With a thunder crack he dropped his axe and the room got a little bit colder.
Said 'Come all you, we've got work to do. We've gotta give 'er all we can give 'er.
'There's a jam of logs at the little jog near the mouth of the Musquash River.

With no time to pray on the Lord's Day, they were hoping for God's forgiveness.
But the jam was high in a troubled sky and they set about their business.
They poked with their poles and ran with the rolls and tried to stay on their feet.
Every trick they tried and one man cried 'This log jam's got us beat.'

Chorus two
But Sandy Gray was not afraid and he let out a mighty yell.
'I'll be damned, we'll break this jam, or it's breakfast in Hell, boys.'
'Breakfast in Hell.'

Now every one of the men did the work of ten and Sandy scrambled up to the top.
He's working like a dog heaving 30 foot logs and it looked like he'd never stop.
They struggled on those men so strong till the jam began to sway.
Then they dove for cover to the banks of the river all except for Sandy Gray.

Now with thoughts of death they held their breath as they saw their friend go down.
They all knew in a second or two he'd be crushed or frozen or drowned.
They saw him fall and they heard him call, just once and then it was over.
Young Sandy Gray gave his life that day near the mouth of the Musquash River.

Chorus three
But Sandy Gray was not afraid and he let out a mighty yell.
'I'll be damned, we'll break that jam, or it's breakfast in Hell, boys.'
'Breakfast in Hell.'

East of Giant's Tomb, there's plenty of room, there's no fences and no walls.
And if you listen close, you'll hear a ghost, down by Sandy Gray Falls.
Through the tops of the trees, you'll hear in the breeze, the echoes of a might yell.
'I'll be damned, we'll break this jam, or it's breakfast in Hell.'

Chorus four
And Sandy Gray lives on today in the echoes of a mighty yell.
'I'll be damned, we'll break this jam, or it's breakfast in Hell, boys.'
'Breakfast in Hell.'

SC

Slaid Cleaves recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bxl4ELxBxNo

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Breakfast in Hell
From: Beer
Date: 22 Jan 08 - 04:22 PM

This fellow is great. I must say that I have never heard of him. Guess I don't get out much. Lots of clips on this site as well as You Tube.
Thanks again.
Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Breakfast in Hell
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 22 Jan 08 - 05:50 PM

Previously posted in thread 36328, 26 July 01.
Breakfast in Hell

Put- breakfast in hell -in Search and it comes up.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Breakfast in Hell (Slaid Cleaves)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Apr 21 - 12:58 AM

Thread #36328   Message #515177
Posted By: bobbi
26-Jul-01 - 03:51 PM
Thread Name: Songs About Hell
Subject: Lyr Add: BREAKFAST IN HELL (Slaid Cleaves)

BREAKFAST IN HELL
By Slaid Cleaves.

In the melting snows of Ontario,
Where the wind'll make you shiver,
'Twas the month of May up in Georgian Bay
Near the mouth of the Musquash River,
Where the bears prowl and the coyotes howl
And you can hear the osprey scream.
Back in '99 we were cutting pine
And sending it down the stream.

Young Sandy Gray came to Go Home Bay
All the way from P.E.I.,
Where the weather's rough and it makes you tough;
No man's afraid to die.
Sandy came a-smilin', 30,000 Islands
Was the place to claim his glory.
Now Sandy's gone, but his name lives on,
And this is Sandy's story.

CHORUS ONE:
Young Sandy Gray lives on today
In the echoes of a mighty yell.
Listen close, and you'll hear a ghost,
In this story that I tell,
Boys, this story that I tell.

Now Sandy Gray was boss of the men
Who'd toss the trees onto the shore.
They'd come and go till they'd built a floe
Of 100,000 logs or more.
And he'd ride 'em down toward Severn Sound
To cut 'em up in the mills for timber.
And ships would haul, spring, summer, and fall,
'Til the ice came in December.

One Sabbath Day, big Sandy Gray
Came into camp with a peavey on his shoulder.
With a thunder crack, he dropped his ax
And the room got a little bit colder.
Said, "Come, all you. We've got work to do.
We've gotta give 'er all we can give 'er.
There's a jam of logs at the little jog
Near the mouth of the Musquash River."

With no time to pray on the Lord's Day,
They were hoping for God's forgiveness,
But the jam was high in a troubled sky
And they set about their business.
They poked with their poles and ran with the rolls
And tried to stay on their feet.
Every trick they tried, and one man cried,
"This log jam's got us beat."

CHORUS TWO:
But Sandy Gray was not afraid
And he let out a mighty yell:
"I'll be damned! We'll break this jam,
Or it's breakfast in Hell,
Boys, breakfast in Hell."

Now every one of the men did the work of ten
And Sandy scrambled up to the top.
He's working like a dog heaving 30-foot logs
And it looked like he'd never stop.
They struggled on, those men so strong,
Till the jam began to sway,
Then they dove for cover to the banks of the river
All except for Sandy Gray.

Now with thoughts of death, they held their breath
As they saw their friend go down.
They all knew in a second or two
He'd be crushed or frozen or drowned.
They saw him fall and they heard him call,
Just once and then it was over.
Young Sandy Gray gave his life that day
Near the mouth of the Musquash River.

CHORUS THREE:
But Sandy Gray was not afraid,
And he let out a mighty yell:
"I'll be damned! We'll break that jam,
Or it's breakfast in Hell,
Boys, breakfast in Hell."

East of Giant's Tomb, there's plenty of room,
There's no fences and no walls;
And if you listen close, you'll hear a ghost,
Down by Sandy Gray Falls.
Through the tops of the trees, you'll hear in the breeze,
The echoes of a mighty yell:
"I'll be damned! We'll break this jam,
Or it's breakfast in Hell."

CHORUS FOUR:
And Sandy Gray lives on today
In the echoes of a mighty yell:
"I'll be damned! We'll break this jam,
Or it's breakfast in Hell,
Boys, breakfast in Hell."

~~~~~~
Note - P.E.I. is Prince Edward Island.

Jim Henry does a great performance of this song with Tracy Grammer: https://youtu.be/bfMlKILpiPs?t=541

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Breakfast in Hell (Slaid Cleaves)
From: Charmion
Date: 27 Apr 21 - 09:06 AM

It’s a remake of “The Jam on Jerry’s Rock”. And very nice, too.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Breakfast in Hell (Slaid Cleaves)
From: GUEST,Jerome Clark
Date: 27 Apr 21 - 08:51 PM

I hadn't thought of Slaid Cleaves in a long time, till quite recently in fact. Just now, inspired by this discussion, I was taken aback to find a 2004 CD of his in my collection, which is big enough that stuff gets swallowed up in it if I'm not careful.

In any event, I am a record reviewer, so albums regularly show up unbidden at my doorstep. The other day, Rod Picott's "Wood, Steel, Dust & Dreams," a 2-CD set, appeared. Picott, from the East Nashville scene, is an old friend of Cleaves's, and the songs are collaborations between the two, composed over the years. It's singer-songwriter in approach and practice, but it sounds as if the two actually have heard real folk music. The disc is certainly an improvement on the usual.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Breakfast in Hell (Slaid Cleaves)
From: GUEST,Julia L
Date: 28 Apr 21 - 11:43 PM

Slaid is from our town here in Maine and knows a thing or two about traditional music