Lyr/Chords ADD: White Squall (Stan Rogers)

Subject: Lyr Add: WHITE SQUALL (Stan Rogers)
From: Will
Date: 14 Mar 98 - 11:25 PM

WHITE SQUALL
(Stan Rogers)
As recorded by Stan Rogers on "From Fresh Water" (1984)

Now it's just my luck to have the watch, with nothing left to do
But watch the deadly waters glide as we roll north to the 'Soo',
And wonder when they'll turn again and pitch us to the rail
And whirl off one more youngster in the gale.

The kid was so damned eager. It was all so big and new.
You never had to tell him twice, or find him work to do.
And evenings on the mess deck he was always first to sing,
And show us pictures of the girl he'd wed in spring.

CHORUS: But I told that kid a hundred times "Don't take the Lakes for granted.
They go from calm to a hundred knots so fast they seem enchanted."
But tonight some red-eyed Wiarton girl lies staring at the wall,
And her lover's gone into a white squall.

Now it's a thing that us oldtimers know. In a sultry summer calm
There comes a blow from nowhere, and it goes off like a bomb.
And a fifteen thousand tonner can be thrown upon her beam
While the gale takes all before it with a scream.

The kid was on the hatches, lying staring at the sky.
From where I stood I swear I could see tears fall from his eyes.
So I hadn't the heart to tell him that he should be on a line,
Even on a night so warm and fine.

CHORUS

When it struck, he sat up with a start; I roared to him, "Get down!"
But for all that he could hear, I could as well not made a sound.
So, I clung there to the stanchions, and I felt my face go pale,
As he crawled hand over hand along the rail.

Now I could feel her heeling over with the fury of the blow.
I watched the rail go under then, so terrible and slow.
Then, like some great dog she shook herself and roared upright again.
Far overside. I heard him call my name.

CHORUS

So it's just my luck to have the watch, with nothing left to do
But watch the deadly waters glide as we roll north to the 'Soo',
And wonder when they'll turn again and pitch us to the rail
And whirl off one more youngster in the gale.

And I tell these kids a hundred times "Don't take the Lakes for granted.
They go from calm to a hundred knots so fast they seem enchanted."
But tonight some red-eyed Wiarton girl lies staring at the wall,
And her lover's gone into a white squall.

Subject: I am looking for the song 'white squall'
From: rod "manylodges" Biagioni
Date: 09 May 99 - 10:55 PM

I am looking for a great lakes song called "white squall". It is a song about a young man lost at sea when a great squall hit his ship from out of no ware. He was resting on the hatch top with out a line. He gets washed over the side and is lost. His red eyed girl waits for his return. " I told that kid a hundred times not to take the lake for granted, It'l go from calm to a hundred knots so fast it seems enchanted. and now the red eyed wanten girl lies crying in the room for her lovers lost in to the white squall." There was a movie based on the song but it did not have the song in it. If anyone can get me the words to it I would be very happy. Thanks Manylodges.

Subject: RE: I am looking for the song 'white squall'
From: DonMeixner
Date: 09 May 99 - 11:27 PM

White Squall is a Stan Rogers song and can be found in his website. It may be in the Mudcat Data Base as well.

Don

Subject: Lyr Add: WHITE SQUALL (Stan Rogers)
From: Art Thieme
Date: 09 May 99 - 11:29 PM

WHITE SQUALL
by Stan Rogers

It's just my luck to have the watch with nothing left to do,
But watch the deadly waters as we roll North to the Sioux,
And wonder when they'll turn again and pitch us to the rail,
And whirl off one more youngster in the gale.

The kid was so damn eager; it was all so big and new,
You never had to ask him twice or find him work to do,
And evenings on the mess deck--he was always first to sing,
And show us pictures of the girl he'd wed in Spring.

CHORUS)
But I told that kid 100 times don't take the lakes for granted,
They go from calm to 100 knots so fast they seem enchanted,
But tonight some red-eyed Wireton girl is staring at the wall,
And her lover's gone into a white squall.

It's a thing that us old timers know---in a sultry summer calm,
There comes a blow from nowhere and it goes off like a bomb,
And a 15,000 tonner can be tossed upon her beam,
While the storm takes all before it with a scream.

The kid was on the hatches---staring at the sky,
From where I stood I thought I could see tears fall from his eyes,
So I hadn't the heart to tell him that he should be on a line,
Even on a night so warm and fine.

CHORUS)

When it struck he sat up with a start---I roared to him, "Get down."
But for all that he could hear I might as well not made a sound,
I held tight to the stantions and I felt my face go pale,
As he crawled, hand-over-hand along the rail.

I could feel her healing over with the fury of the blow,
I watched the rail go under then, so terrible and slow,
Then like some great dog she shook herself and roared upright again,
Far overboard I heard him call my name.

Chorus) And I tell these kids 100 times don't take the lakes for granted,
They go from calm to 100 knots so fast they seem enchanted,
But tonight some red-eyed Wireton girl lies staring at the wall,
And her lover's gone into a white squall.

(repeat first verse)

from Art Thieme...

Subject: RE: I am looking for the song 'white squall'
From: rich r
Date: 09 May 99 - 11:33 PM

"White Squall" was written and recorded by Stan Rogers. Check out the web site listed in the Stan Rogers thread, it may have the lyrics. My computer won't let me go there tonight so I have been unable to check. The song is set in the "Inland Sea" better known as the Great Lakes. The red-eyed "Wiarton" girl would be from the lakeport of Wiarton Ontario on Lake Huron. At one time a surprisingly high proportion of Canadian Great Lakes captains originated from Wiarton.

rich r

Subject: i told that boy a thousand times not to
From:
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 08:06 PM

I'm looking for the name of and the lyrics to a song whose chorus goes "I told that boy a thousand times not to take the lake for granted."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: i told that boy a thousand times not
From: GUEST,MarkS
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 08:14 PM

You are looking for "White Squall" by Stan Rogers, the great and unfortunately late Canadian singer/songwriter. This song can be found on the "From Fresh Waters" album.
MarkS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: i told that boy a thousand times not
From: MarkS
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 08:23 PM

Sorry - reset my cookie and am no longer a guest!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: i told that boy a thousand times not
From: Naemanson
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 09:19 PM

Try this website for lyrics:

http://stevebriggs.superb.net/stanrogers/

Subject: Lyr Add: WHITE SQUALL (Stan Rogers)
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 11 Nov 00 - 01:54 AM

WHITE SQUALL

Now it's just my luck to have the watch with nothing left to do
But watch the deadly waters glide as we roll north to "the Soo"
And wonder when they'll turn again and pitch us to the rail
And whirl off one more youngster in the gale
The kid was so damned eager it was all so big and new
You never had to tell him twice or find him work to do
And evenings on the mess deck he was always first to sing
And show us pictures of the girl he'd wed in spring

CHORUS
But I told that kid a hundred times "Don't take the lakes for granted
They go from calm to a hundred knots so fast they seem enchanted"
But tonight some red-eyed Wiarton girl lies staring at the wall
And her lover's gone into a white squall

Now it's a thing that us old timers know in the sultry summer calm
There comes a blow from no where and it goes off like a bomb
And as fifteen thousand tonner can thrown upon her beam
While the gale takes off before it with a scream

The kid was on the hatches, lying staring at the sky
From where I stood I swear I could see tears in his eyes
So I hadn't the heart to tell him that he should be on a line
Even on a night so warm and fine

CHORUS

When it struck he sat up with a start; I roared to him "GET DOWN"
But for all that he could hear I could as well not made a sound
So, I clung there to the stanchions and I felt my face grow pale
As he crawled hand over hand along the rail

Now, I could feel her heeling over with the fury of the blow
I watched the rail go under then, so terrible and slow
Then, like some great dog she shook herself and roared upright again
Far overside, I heard him call my name

CHORUS

(Repeat 1st vers & chorus)

{~`

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: i told that boy a thousand times not
From: Willie-O
Date: 11 Nov 00 - 02:57 PM

A very personal reminiscence: First time I ever heard that song was at Stan Rogers' home the afternoon after his funeral in June 1983. "From Fresh Water" had not yet been released, and there was a reel-to-reel recorder set up in the living room playing some of the tracks. Hit me like a ton of bricks. Stunning song and delivery. Tears flowed freely.

As to what I was doing there, there was a bit of a reception going on and I was, um, a hanger-on.

Willie-O

Subject: white squall
From: jup
Date: 12 Jan 02 - 12:00 AM

I found the words in the forum but still could use cords if anyone can help, thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: white squall
From: DonMeixner
Date: 12 Jan 02 - 12:14 AM

Open up the Google search engine and type in White Squall chords" you will end up at Harmony Central- OLGA the Stan Rogers list and there you are.

Don

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: white squall
From: breezy
Date: 12 Jan 02 - 06:05 AM

What key suits your voice? I can sing it in'D' steady claw - hammer not too loud to begin with
D Now its just luck to have the watch with- no Bm thing much to G do,
But F#m watch the deadly waters as we Em roll north to the s A7oo
repear seq for rest of verse
does this make sense so far?
chorus goes A7telltold Gtake D granted
they but G go F#m hundred Em fast en A7 chanted
but D tonite Bm staring G wall
F#m lovers in Em to A white Dsquall
great song
I've looked at the afore-mentioned thread but I cant agree with the chords , I don't think its comprehensive enough, tell me what you think
, on my last trip to canada my wife and friends dissuaded me from visiting Wiarton, what did I miss? It was late October.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: white squall
From: jup
Date: 12 Jan 02 - 06:59 AM

Thanks ,breezy, I like the clawhammer it works well. I'll try this out a bit more. Maybe it needs something extra. I'll mess around with some runs,but the key is fine.Thanks!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: white squall
From: breezy
Date: 12 Jan 02 - 07:21 AM

As an intro and between chorus and verse I 'modulate'-they cant stop you- by going chords C-G-D after running up 4th string the notes of DEf#GA-and down GF#EDBC#D then hang out on the G chord for 1/2 bars then play a fullD chord.It took me a while and I did it the earway originally starting in the key of A.If its too high in D its worth tuning down a semi-tone, go for it any way and build it up. Where are you based? use Pm

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: white squall
From: DonMeixner
Date: 12 Jan 02 - 08:12 AM

Hi Guys,

I went through and transposed this into "D" from the OLGA numbered chords. I find little to argue about the chords from either selection, Breezy's or the OLGA files. I have a Sing Out some place with the chords in it that Stan used, I'll try and find it later/ I'm intrigued by your mention of Clawhammer, are you playing a banjo with this tune? I never considered using the banjo on it before because of the lack of any meaningful bass runs. If was n't sitting here in my underware waiting for the shower I'd grab a banjo and try it. :-))

Don

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: white squall
From: breezy
Date: 12 Jan 02 - 11:09 AM

hello Don , I'm using guitar hand made by the late Chris Cross, using dropped D and playing a 'long G'.I agree it has to have a depth to the sound.I might come back to you chaps if I need other S.Rogers' ideas.
BTW, I prefer the Artisan version of MEC, to me it has greater impact, I was dissappointed by Stan's interpretation, giving the impression it was just a song to him , yet it carries a powerful philosophy.Artisan do it justice.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: white squall
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 12 Jan 02 - 02:51 PM

"I was dissappointed (sic) by Stan's interpretation"

Of Mary Ellen Carter???

He wrote it.. how can HIS interpretation of it POSSIBLY be OFF?????

As far as White Squall goes, myself, I do it in A... Capo'd 2nd out of the G position...

(G) Well, it's just to (Bm) have the watch with (Em) nothing left to (C) do...

I'm sure you can figure out the rest from there...

;-)

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: white squall
From: breezy
Date: 13 Jan 02 - 08:31 AM

You haven't heard Artisan so you can't compare.
Its that they do it more justice than Stan,its a ,'Poet cant do his own stuff' incidence. Only in this case though. Hear Artisan and then tell me what you think.BTW my wife just thinks they are both good, but I'll go further.
G-Bm -Em sounds better Than D- F#m- Bm but does your voice have a bass range?What is your note range ?mine is A - E but late I've found I'm going lower - bottom C!, must be hormonal!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: white squall
From: Knappo
Date: 13 Jan 02 - 09:54 AM

Another nice version of this song is by a guy named Pat Daley. He's out of Ohio and mostly does a lot of off-color humor songs, but he gets serious at times and does well with this one. I forget the album it's on. That's it. Bye. Tom

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: white squall
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Jan 02 - 08:59 AM

The Artisan version of MEC is well worth a listen, if you're fond of tight harmony.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: white squall
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 14 Jan 02 - 04:06 PM

Where can I find this Artisan version of MEC? They got a web presence?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: white squall
From: breezy
Date: 14 Jan 02 - 07:01 PM

yes

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: white squall
From: breezy
Date: 14 Jan 02 - 07:06 PM

google then type in Artisan folk group ,it worked a minute ago.
They cross the world
Brian Bedford writes a few songs
They are the business

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: white squall
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 14 Jan 02 - 07:32 PM

Seems to me the polite thing would be to provied a url here in this thread... .-)

comme ca

Artisan

Now I have some info to hit morpheus with... run a little preview over my ears and decide if I like 'em or not...

;-)

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: white squall
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 14 Jan 02 - 07:45 PM

Well, tonight Morpheus is unfortunatly devoid of any tracks by Artisan... and also unfortunatly, their web site neglects to provide samples... So, I'll have to come back here and refresh this after I do get a chance to hear 'em...

Anybody got an mp3 of their version of MEC they wanna email me?

[e-mail]

.-)

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: white squall
From: breezy
Date: 14 Jan 02 - 08:09 PM

Good on you Clint., sorry you're likely to have to wait until you get an artisan recording, I heard them do it live and it was a knockout and if it turned on more of the uninitiated to Stan Rogers then it did the trick.
I've used the song's philosophy on more than one occasion.
A good friend of mine suffered a heart attack on Christmas day while preparing his kids the dinner, fortunately he's now in rehab.
He collected all Stan's tapes after I sang him MEC, and he heard Marilyn Middleton- Pollock who hails from Chicago sing Tiny Fish, Harris,and Last Watch, and he will rise again.
Hang in there, and let me know when you get to hear Artisan
TTFN

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: white squall
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 14 Jan 02 - 08:15 PM

Well, then it might be a hell of a long wait... even with such high praise from such reliable sources, I'm not gonna be buying a CD before I hear 'em...

One reason why everyone should have samples on thier web site...

LOL!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: white squall
From: breezy
Date: 15 Jan 02 - 05:24 PM

Its on the Album 'Driving Home '
Oh ye of little faith.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: white squall
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 15 Jan 02 - 05:35 PM

Ya... I know what album it's on...

But I don't buy ANYTHING I can't sample first... especially music... There's way too much subjectivity in taste to be able to totally trust anybody but myself...

And ordering online, shipping and then having to return is a HUGE pain in the ass...

So until I can either see a show, or catch an mp3, I'm afraid that they're gonna have to sit on the short list and like it!

LOL!!!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: white squall
From: breezy
Date: 16 Jan 02 - 03:19 PM

Nice talking PM me if you like , I'm into geography

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: white squall
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 16 Jan 02 - 03:20 PM

geography? Heh... I often have trouble finding my way around the house...

LOL!

.-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: i told that boy a thousand times not
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Jan 03 - 01:38 AM

Thanks very much for the Lyrics.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: white squall
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Sep 21 - 04:55 PM

Joe - needs cleanup

Subject: ADD: The White Squall (Maine)
From: GUEST,Julia L
Date: 08 Sep 21 - 08:50 AM

Just for the record, there is a 19th century song called "The White Squall" which I found in a collection of songs from Searsport ME. The original seems to have been a poem written in 1832 by Brevet-Major Richard Johns, while serving in the Mediterranean. He wrote the poem "shortly after the mysterious disappearance of one of his Majesty's sloops of war in the Mediterranean, supposed to have been lost in a squall of this character which, sudden and violent in its coming, too often proves fatal." (Ladies Magazine & Museum 1836) It was set to music by George Barker.


THE WHITE SQUALL
(Brevet-Major Richard Johns, music by George Barker)

1
Oh, the sea was bright and the barque rode well
The breeze bore the tones of the vesper bell
‘T was a gallant barque with a crew as brave
As e'er was launched on the heaving wave
--As e'er was launched on the heaving wave
For she shone in the light of declining day
Each sail was set and each heart was gay
For she shone in the light of declining day
Each sail was set and each heart was gay
And each heart was gay

2
They neared the land where in beauty smiles
The sunny shores of the Grecian isles
All thought of home and the welcome dear
That soon should greet each wand'rer's ear
That soon should greet each wand'rer's ear
And in fancy joined in the social throng
The festive dance and the joyous song
And in fancy joined in the social throng
The festive dance and the joyous song
And the joyous song

3
The White Squall glides through the azure sky
Bark! What means that despairing cry .
Farewell the transient dreams of home
'Tis the cry for help where no help can come
'Tis the cry for help where no help can come
For The White Squall glides o'er the surging wave
And the barque is 'gulfed in an ocean grave
For the White Squall glides o'er the surging wave
And the barque is 'gulfed in an ocean grave
In an ocean grave