The story of the bark "Anne Maguire" plowing into the ledge in front of Portland Head Light in Maine on Christmas Eve in 1886 has haunted me for years. I finally was able to compose this ballad yesterday, fitting it to the old contra dance tune "Whiskey before Breakfast." By Charlie Ipcar, ©2021 (9-25-21) Tune traditional “Whiskey before Breakfast” Key: D (2/C) The Wreck of the "Anne C. Maguire"-1886 C--------------------F--------C On a moon lite night so clear, F-----------C-------G Whiskey for me Johnny-o, C------------------------F----------C Portland Head was drawing near, F-----------C-------G------C Whiskey for me Johnny-o! -----------------------G----C---------G---C Our gallant bark sped through the night, -------G------------------C---F----C---G She struck the ledge be-fore the Light, ------C---------G7-------F----------C And it was a totally awesome sight, F----------C-------G-------C Whiskey for me Johnny-o! The "Anne Maguire" swung half around, Whiskey for me Johnny-o, Broadside to the cliff, fast aground, Whiskey for me Johnny-o, “All hands on deck!” our Captain cried, We pounded the deck from side to side, But she wouldn’t budge so ill she lied, Whiskey for me Johnny-o! The year was eighteen eighty-six, Whiskey for me Johnny-o, We found ourselves in this helluva fix, Whiskey for me Johnny-o, ‘Twas Christmas Eve, hard aground, Capt. O’Neil did us expound, “Abandon ship, ‘lest we all drown!” Whiskey for me Johnny-o! We heaved a ladder o’er the rail, Whiskey for me Johnny-o! And tumbled ashore without fail, Whiskey for me Johnny-o! The lighthouse keeper and his spouse, Warmed us up with Liverpool scouse, And salvaged whiskey for the house, Whiskey for me Johnny-o! So early next morn to town we rode, Whiskey for me Johnny-o! The ship was bilged, her bottom stove, Whiskey for me Johnny-o! Wreckers saved her spars and chains, Only her standing rigging remained, While we drowned our sorrows and pain, Whiskey for me Johnny-o! Here’s to our Captain where e’er he be, Whiskey for me Johnny-o! A friend to the sailor on land or sea, Whiskey for me Johnny-o! And may his soul fore’er be blessed, Of all good fellas he was the best, He shared the insurance at our request, Whiskey for me Johnny-o!
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