I've been more seriously reintroduced to Great Lakes chanteys and songs. I picked up this particular rousing sailor song from the group, Hoolie, who got it from Lee Murdock. Murdock wrote the tune and added the chorus. He's been reintroducing the fine, fine, unknown work of Ivan Walton and took the text from Walton.

Ivan Walton recorded the text (no tune recalled) from Norman "Beachie" MacIvor of Goderich Ontario in 1934. See Windjammers: Songs of the Great Lakes Sailors; finally edited by Joe Grimm, 2002

Murdock sells the book at Clicky as well as his own CDs. (The song at issue is on The Lost Lake Sailors CD as "Below Niagara Falls.")

Thing is, Walton was an extensive collector of the "last leaves" of Laker windjammer sailors - barely (I gather) as they were dying off in the 20's & 30's. No one was interested in their material back then and it took until 2002 to be published. Many, fine songs & novel as well as standard versions of known songs.

Much of the point is that salt-sea songs were sung continuously to the lakes and back to the salt. Ie, salty sailors would finish their season and then join the Maine or Michigan logging operations for the winter and bring their songs with them. We all know that much but after the logging season, many would find themselves in Michigan and looking for a "ride" and a job to get back to the Atlantic. There was plenty of sail traffic - ore carriers, of course, but all kinds of goods since la Salle's Le Griffon 1st tried it on Lake Erie in 1679.

The book is a good read. I only complain that one cannot differentiate Walton's comments from the editing and commentary of Grimm. Still, it gives us much lost material and I think more and more will make its way onto the "circuit" of folk interests.

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So I learned this song and didn't realize for quite a while that it's an "A-plus" version of "The Winnipeg Whore." I don't think Walton or Grimm or Murdock caught this either. "The Winnipeg Whore" for me, was one of those songs we had as kids but since I was always put off by the (usually) associated childrens' tune, "Reuben & Rachel" or "Reuben, Reuben," I never learned it. Murdock may have performed a valued service to a classic bawdy ballad with his singable tune - or ruined it. But I like it.

Referring to Cray, Erotic Muse p. 203, the Walton version has all of the important elements of all Cray versions cited.   


        The Buffalo Whore

My first trip dawn old Lake Erie,
With some sailors to explore;
        A-singing, way, Niagara,
        Below Niagara Falls.
Then I met Rosy O'Flannagan,
Best of all the Buffalo whores.
        A-singing, way, Niagara,
        Below Niagara Falls.

She says, "Boy, I think I know you,
Let me sit upon your knee,"
        A-singing, way, Niagara,
        Below Niagara Falls.
"How'd you like to do some lovin'?
A dollar and a half will be my fee."
        A-singing, way, Niagara,
        Below Niagara Falls.
        A-singing, way, Niagara,
        Roustabout Niagara;
        Beware of the rocks that lie
        Below Niagara Falls.

Some were singing, some were dancing,
Some were drunk upon the floor;
        A-singing, way, Niagara,
        Below Niagara Falls.
But I was over in a corner
A'making love to the Buffalo whore.
        A-singing, way, Niagara,
        Below Niagara Falls.

She was slick as oil on water,
I didn't know what she was about
        A-singing, way, Niagara,
        Below Niagara Falls.
'Til I missed my watch and wallet,
Then I popped her on the snout.
        A-singing, way, Niagara,
        Below Niagara Falls.
        A-singing, way, Niagara,
        Roustabout Niagara;
        Beware of the rocks that lie
        Below Niagara Falls.

Out came the whores and sons-of-bitches,
They came at me by the score;
        A-singing, way, Niagara,
        Below Niagara Falls.
You'd have laughed to split your britches
To see me flying out that door!
        A-singing, way, Niagara,
        Below Niagara Falls.

So to all of you young sailors
On the Lakes when you explore
        A-singing, way, Niagara,
        Below Niagara Falls.
Keep an eye upon your riggin'
While navigatin' that Buffalo shore.
        A-singing, way, Niagara,
        Below Niagara Falls.
        A-singing, way, Niagara,
        Roustabout Niagara;
        Beware of the rocks that lie
        Below Niagara Falls.