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!