Another lumberjack song thread reminded me I wasn't finished here.

FLAT RIVER GIRL (Beck "Lore of the Lumber Camps" version E, from Mrs. Alice S Vaughan opf Greenville, MI. Mrs Vaughan got her version of the song from John Tucker, the brother of Anne Tucker Mercer)

1. I'm a heartbroken raftsman, from Greenville I came.
My virtue's departed; and also my fame.
Tis the strong darts of Cupid have caused me much grief;
My heart bursts asunder, I can ne'er find relief.

2. Occupation, I'm a raftsman, where the white waters roll;
My name is engraved on lake, sand and shoal.
From Six Lakes to Greenville I'm very well known;
And they call me Jack Haggerty, the pride of the town

3. I will tell you my troubles without more delay,
How a bright little lassie my heart stole away;
She was the blacksmith's fair daughter on the Flat River side
And I always intended to make her my bride.

4. Her form like the dove it was slender and neat;
Her hair hung in ringlets to her tiny white feet.
Her voice sweet as music, her eyes a dark brown,
I told her I loved her as we strolled through the town.

5, I dressed her in jewels and the finest of lace;
In the costliest of muslins her form I embraced.
I gave her my wages, the same to keep safe,
And begrudged her nothing I had on this earth

6. I took her to suppers, to parties, to balls;
Out riding Sunday morning, my first early call.
I called her a jewel, what a name for a wife!-
When I think of her treachery it near takes my life.

7. I worked on the river; I made quite a stake;
I laid by my wages, I ne'er played the rake
I was the boy that was happy on the swift rolling stream:
My thoughts were of Anna; she haunted my dreams.

8. One day on the river a letter I received,
Saying from her promises herself she'd relieved.
"My marriage to another I've a long time delayed,
And the next time you see me I'll ne'er be a maid."

9. To her mother, Jane Tucker, I lay all the blame;
She has caused her to leave me, to darken my name.
She cast off the rigging that God would soon tie
And left me a wanderer until the day that I die.

10. Farewell to Flat River. For me there's no rest:
I'll shoulder my peavey, and then I'll go West;
I will go to Muskegon some comfort to find,
Farewell to Flat River, and the gay girls behind.

11. Come all you brave raftsmen with hearts stout and true,
Don't depend on a woman; you're beat if you do.
And if ever you see one with brown chestnut curls,
Just think of Jack Haggerty and his Flat River girl.

This is a fairly complete version without many unusual phrases. We do discover that Anna had brown eyes, she went to the suppers and dances, but just regular rides, no boat rides. there is a little extra geography, as he is known from "Six Lakes to Greenville". He has also taken to engraving his name on the lake, even more ephemeral than the sand. I choose not to comment on the "Farewell to Flat River, and the gay girls behind" line.

happy easter

rich r