Lyr/Chords Req: The Lock-Keeper (Stan Rogers)

Subject: The Lockkeeper
From:
Date: 06 Feb 97 - 11:32 PM

I'm looking for lyrics and chord progression for this song originally done by Stan Rogers. Can anyone help?

Subject: Lyr Add: LOCK-KEEPER (Stan Rogers)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Feb 97 - 08:57 PM

Sorry, no chords, but here are the lyrics and the new URL for the Stan Rogers Web site:

LOCK-KEEPER
(Stan Rogers)

You say, "Well-met again, Lock-keeper!
We're laden even deeper that the time before,
Oriental oils and tea brought down from Singapore."
As we wait for my lock to cycle
I say, "My wife has given me a son."
"A son!" you cry, "Is that all that you've done?"

She wears bougainvillea blossoms.
You pluck 'em from her hair and toss 'em in the tide,
Sweep her in your arms and carry her inside.
Her sighs catch on your shoulder;
Her moonlit eyes grow bold and wiser through her tears
And I say, "How could you stand to leave her for a year?"

"Then come with me" you say, "to where the Southern Cross
Rides high upon your shoulder."
"Come with me!" you cry,
"Each day you tend this lock, you're one day older,
While your blood runs colder."
But that anchor chain's a fetter
And with it you are tethered to the foam,
And I wouldn't trade your life for one hour of home.

Sure I'm stuck here on the Seaway
While you compensate for leeway through the Trades;
And you shoot the stars to see the miles you've made.
And you laugh at hearts you've riven,
But which of these has given us more love of life,
You, your tropic maids, or me, my wife.

"Then come with me" you say, "to where the Southern Cross
Rides high upon your shoulder."
"Ah come with me!" you cry,
"Each day you tend this lock, you're one day older,
While your blood runs colder."
But that anchor chain's a fetter
And with it you are tethered to the foam,
And I wouldn't trade your life for one hour of home.
Ah your anchor chain's a fetter
And with it you are tethered to the foam,
And I wouldn't trade your whole life for just one hour of home.

Written and recorded by Stan Rogers. Copyright Fogarty's Cove Music

---

Stan's Website/lyrics: www.stanrogers.net

Subject: RE: The Lockkeeper
From: Ron K.
Date: 08 Feb 97 - 08:22 PM

Thanks a lot not only for the lyrics, but for the URL too!

Subject: RE: The Lockkeeper
From: BILL
Date: 09 Feb 97 - 09:50 PM

If you search for OLGA and find a location named WONSUP guitar, you will find many Stan Rogers songs with chords.

Subject: RE: The Lockkeeper
From: Dan Calder
Date: 27 Feb 97 - 09:27 PM

You'll find "Lockkeeper" (complete with chords) and many other Stan tunes at:

http://www.io.org/~njo/srogers/stan.html

Enjoy.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Lock-Keeper (Stan Rogers)
From: breezy
Date: 15 Jul 04 - 04:16 AM

It was Eric Bogle's recording of this song that introduced me to Stan's work.

Eric does it justice and his guitar intro is distinctive.

Do listen to it as he is a fine interpreter of the song, in this case maybe superior to Stan although one must not compare the voices.

Cheers Eric, now when will you record one of George Papavgeris's

Subject: Chords Add: THE LOCK-KEEPER (Stan Rogers)
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 04:23 PM

Links don´t work for me.
Here is what I have, I am 99% sure it´s (mainly) the Bok/Muir/Trickett version.
Cheers
Jan

Lock-Keeper    Stan Rogers

Capo 4th for the Bok, Mayo Muir and Trickett version

(C)    (Am) (Am/G) (F) (G)
You say, (C)"Well met again, lock-keeper!
We're (Am)laden even (Am/G)deeper then the (F)time before,
Ori(Dm)ental oils and (G)tea brought down from (C)Singapore."
As we wait for my lock to cycle,
I say, (Am) "My wife has just (Am/G)given me a (F)son."
"A (Dm)son!" you cry, (G) "Is that all that you've (C)done?"

She wears bougainvillea blossoms,
You (Am)pluck 'em from her (Am/G)hair and toss them (F)in the tide,
Sweep her (Dm)in your arms and (G)carry her in(C)side.
Her sighs catch on your shoulder,
Her (Am)moonlit eyes grow (Am/G)bold and wiser (F)through her tears,
And I say, "How (Dm)could you stand to (G)leave her for a (C)year?"

"Then (F)come with me," you say,
"To where the (Dm)Southern Cross
Rides (G)high upon your (C)shoulder.
(Am)Come with me," you (Am/G)cry,
"Each (F)day you tend this (Dm)lock, you're one day (G4)ol(G)der,(hold)
While your (Am)blood (Am/G)grows (F)col(G)der."

"But that (C)anchor chain's a fetter,
And (Am)with it, you are (Am/G)tethered to the (F)foam,
And I (Dm)wouldn't trade your (G)life for one hour of (C)home. – instrumental verse -

Sure I'm stuck here on the Seaway,
While you (Am)compensate for (Am/G)leeway through the (F)trades,
And you (Dm)shoot the stars to (G)see the miles you've (C)made.
And you laugh at hearts you've riven,
But (Am)which of these has (Am/G)given us more (F)love or life,
You, your (Dm)tropic maids, or (G)me, my (C)wife?"

"Then (F)come with me," you say,
"To where the (Dm)Southern Cross
Rides (G)high upon your (C)shoulder.
(Am)Come with me," you (Am/G)cry,
"Each (F)day you tend this (Dm)lock, you're one day (G4)ol(G)der,(hold)
And your (Am)blood (Am/G)grows (F)col(G)der." (hold)

"But that (C)anchor chain's a fetter,
And (Am)with it, you are (Am/G)tethered to the (F)foam,
And I (Dm)wouldn't trade your (G)life for one hour of (C)home. (C)(C4)(Cadd9)(C)
Oh, that anchor chain's a fetter,
(Am)With it, you are (Am/G)tethered to the (F)foam,
And I (Dm)wouldn't trade your whole (G)life for one hour of (C)home.

© Stan Rogers, All Rights Reserved

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Lock-Keeper (Stan Rogers)
From: bubblyrat
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 04:46 PM

A beautiful, lyrical, and utterly poetic, song. But I used to be Relief Lock-keeper at Buscot, Rushey, Abingdon and Iffley, and believe me, it can be as exciting as watching paint dry!! I used to pray to Our Lord for a fuel-tank explosion, or a body floating down the river, or a terrorist attack, ANYTHING to engender a bit of LIFE into the proceedings. Thank FUCK I don't do it anymore!!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Lock-Keeper (Stan Rogers)
From: GUEST,olga
Date: 01 Apr 12 - 12:31 PM

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Lock-Keeper (Stan Rogers)
From: Beer
Date: 01 Apr 12 - 01:01 PM

http://youtu.be/q0d4cTIPdOo


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
adrien

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Lock-Keeper (Stan Rogers)
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 02 Apr 12 - 07:15 AM

Very fine version of this song sung by Ado Barker of the Melbourne Irish band "Trouble In The Kitchen" on their CD "The Next Turn" - a CD I highly recommend.

---

Threads combined. Messages below are from a new thread.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Req: The Lock Keeper, Stan Rogers
From: Dennis the Elder
Date: 02 Sep 12 - 06:50 AM

What a great song, I have heard Eric Bogle singing this song and have just discovered Stan Rogers original version of his own song. What a voice he had!.I had not realised that Stan had died at the age of 33 in an aircraft fire, what a loss. I would love to attempt to sing it myself, although no chance of coming anywhere near Stan or Eric's versions. The few who have hear me sing would agree with this wholeheartedly. Dennis

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lock Keeper, Stan Rogers
From: Leadfingers
Date: 02 Sep 12 - 08:40 AM

The search box is a good place to start Dennis ! Joe Offer psted the lyrics in 1997 ! See The Lock Keeper

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lock Keeper, Stan Rogers
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 02 Sep 12 - 10:06 AM

It's a great song. Margaret Christl did a great job of singing it, too.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lock Keeper, Stan Rogers
From: Midchuck
Date: 02 Sep 12 - 10:13 AM

It's certainly a finalist for Stan's Best Song. I'd put it ahead, by a slight margin, of Mary Ellen Carter, which seems to be everyone's favorite.

P.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lock Keeper, Stan Rogers
From: Dennis the Elder
Date: 02 Sep 12 - 11:15 AM

Thanks, Leadfingers, I looked in the DT area but forgot the search box.
Its a good job I did not sing it as I thought Eric Bogle sang it. I thought the lines :-

But that anchor chain's a fetter
And with it you are tethered to the foam,

was

But that anchor chain's a feather
And with it you are tethered to the phone.

I wondered why it did not seem to make sense.

I have not heard Margaret Christl sing this song, but her rendition of Safe in the Harbour is excellent. Mary Ellen Carter is a song I had not heard sung by Stan Rogers, I have now and yes it deserves to be in his top two in my opinion.
Now I have found Stan Rogers I will certainly not forget him.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lock Keeper, Stan Rogers
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Sep 12 - 12:03 PM

I think the lyrics are on chordie. Com

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lock Keeper, Stan Rogers
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 02 Sep 12 - 02:35 PM

I first heard this song sung by Ado Barker, fiddler with the Melbourne Irish band "Trouble In The Kitchen" at Australia's National Folk Festival 3, or maybe 4 years ago. A fine song, and Ado is a great singer as well as fiddler. I just listened to his version on their CD "The Next Turn" [ highly recommended ] , and the lyrics are more or less what is connected to in the link provided above. A few words have been changed - according to the sleeve notes, Ado got the song from Tommy Carew from Co. Limerick who sang it at a session in Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare.

The lines -
"But that anchor chain's a fetter
And with it you are tethered to the foam,"

are as sung by Ado.

And if you want to hear another excellent song, listen to the band's version of David Francey's "Mill Town".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lock Keeper, Stan Rogers
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 02 Sep 12 - 08:21 PM

I've been a Stan fan from when he was a relative unknown touring with John Allen Cameron. He could play, write, and sing with the best and he could do all three together better than anyone! Lock Keeper is a great song but Make&Break Harbour to me was his best of all! My subjective thread drift addition.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lock Keeper, Stan Rogers
From: WindhoverWeaver
Date: 03 Sep 12 - 03:24 AM

How does one choose "the best song" when talking about a man like Stan? I could probably come up with an unranked 10 best. In addition to those mentioned above, would have to include Northwest Passage (the only song I get requests for), Forty-Five Years, Barrett's Privateers, White Squall, The Last Watch, and The Field Behind The Plough.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lock Keeper, Stan Rogers
From: Dennis the Elder
Date: 03 Sep 12 - 04:09 AM

Being a totally new listener to the songs of Stan Rogers my knowledge is limited. I have just ordered, as a starter, the CD "The Best of Stan Rogers" in order to extend my knowledge. Many of the above I am sure will be on this CD and I will then be able to better assess my likes.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lock Keeper, Stan Rogers
From: bradfordian
Date: 03 Sep 12 - 05:27 AM

"She wears bougainvillea blossoms.
You pluck 'em from her hair and toss 'em in the tide,"

I went to Egypt 6 years ago, and there were gorgeous brilliant bougainvillea everywhere, it was so evocative!

Flossie Maleavialle also sings a lovely version on her "Making up the miles" CD

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lock Keeper, Stan Rogers
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 03 Sep 12 - 06:03 AM

"How does one choose "the best song" when talking about a man like Stan?"
Not easy and totally subjective. Better for me to say the song I like best rather than best song. Even then its a difficult choice.
I posted this link on other threads about Stan, and anyone who has not seen it can learn much about the man and his music, so I will put a clicky here as well.
One Warm Line

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lock Keeper, Stan Rogers
From: deepdoc1
Date: 03 Sep 12 - 09:04 AM

What is the trick to seeing the video? When I click the link there's no video content. Am I missing a plugin or something? I found half of this documentary on youtube, but can't find the rest. So far I haven't even found it for sale...even his website appears down. Is it something I said?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lock Keeper, Stan Rogers
From: Dennis the Elder
Date: 03 Sep 12 - 01:56 PM

The Clicky works for me, thanks Sandy. Its worth the effort of figuring out why you cannot receive it deepdoc.
The more I here the more I love both Stan's music and his voice and realise what a loss to folk music his tragic early death was.
I have a Flossie CD Bradfordian, (Wilderness Years) but unfortunately its not got "Making up the Miles "on it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lock Keeper, Stan Rogers
From: kendall
Date: 03 Sep 12 - 03:06 PM

Who was singing the harmony? he was over driving it in places.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lock Keeper, Stan Rogers
From: kendall
Date: 03 Sep 12 - 03:08 PM

There is no question that Stan Rogers was one of the very best singer songwriters of the 20th century. So many artists have recorded his stuff, that says a lot.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lock Keeper, Stan Rogers
From: WindhoverWeaver
Date: 03 Sep 12 - 04:02 PM

I agree Kendall--and the fact that some of his songs get passed off as traditional is pretty amazing too.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lock Keeper, Stan Rogers
From: deepdoc1
Date: 03 Sep 12 - 04:05 PM

Internet Explorer plays it fine, Chrome not so much. Very fine film of a stirring performer! Thanks for sharing the link, Sandy.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Lock-Keeper (Stan Rogers)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Sep 12 - 05:04 PM

I've often wondered about the location of this song. Since it's on the Seaway and it's on Stan's From Fresh Water album of Great Lakes songs, my guess is that it's at one of the 8 locks on the Welland Canal, which runs 42 miles through Ontario parallel to the Niagara River, between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, bypassing Niagara Falls.

As far as I know, the only other locks on the St. Lawrence Seaway are those at Sault Ste. Marie, along the St. Mary's River between Lake Superior and the Straits of Mackinac, which connect Lake Huron and Lake Michigan.

Anybody know of other locks on the Seaway?

By the way, the Wikipedia page on the Welland Canal is fascinating. If, like me, you really love the Great Lakes, you'll enjoy http://www.wellandcanals.com/ and http://www.wellandcanal.ca/. I suppose this Stan Rogers song captures my imagination more than any other, because I grew up on the Great Lakes and I've always loved the Lakes and the lake boats. Another of Stan's Great Lakes songs that I love in The White Squall.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Lock-Keeper (Stan Rogers)
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 03 Sep 12 - 05:36 PM

Yes. there are locks on the St. Lawrence River allowing passage from Montreal to Lake Ontario.
Seaway
Stan's wife Ariel says that the song is an analogy between Stan's time spent on the road touring and his time at home with her and his family.
The Welland Canal and its locks certainly would have been closest to their home.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Lock-Keeper (Stan Rogers)
From: jacqui.c
Date: 03 Sep 12 - 07:07 PM

Maybe I'm biased but I reckon that our own Kendall Morse did a pretty good job with this song. It's one of my favourites of the songs he sang.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Lock-Keeper (Stan Rogers)
From: kendall
Date: 03 Sep 12 - 07:37 PM

Modesty forbids comment.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Lock-Keeper (Stan Rogers)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Sep 12 - 08:41 PM

Oh, Jacqui and Kendall, quit flirting out here in front of everybody! Get a room!!

I found the following at archive.org, in an archived copy of the Stan Rogers Website:

...here's the way Stan and Garnet introduced this song in concert...

Stan: Anybody here ever read a book in your childhood called The Wind in the Willows? For those of you haven't it's not too late. I just re-read it for the fifteenth time, first time this year, earlier this year, and fell in love with the thing all over again. But there's a scene, for those of you who have read it, there's a scene where the river rat Ratius is lying on a hillside and the rat from the ship goes walking by and they strike up a conversation, and the seagoing rat is trying to talk the river rat into leaving his little home on the river bank and going and seeing the wonders if the wide world. All the things that he's seen, like the waterfront at Marseilles, the sewers of Cairo. Garnet: Anywhere in New Jersey. Stan: You're leaking, losing air down there. In any event, the river rat decides that what he'd much rather do is stay home with his friends and the people that he knows. Much the same thing happens on the St. Lawrence. The ships go through the locks on the Welland Canal and all the other canals all the way up to Lake Superior, and these lock-keepers, they see these ships go by from all over the world. They talk to the crew. They talk to the officers and then they go home to their little split level suburban homes in Port Dalhousie or Buffalo. I owe this song partly to The Wind in the Willows and partly to the fact that I grew up on the Niagara Peninsula near the Welland Canal. This is called Lock-keeper.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Lock-Keeper (Stan Rogers)
From: kendall
Date: 04 Sep 12 - 06:27 AM

One of the many reasons I married Jacqui was her exquisite taste in music.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Lock-Keeper (Stan Rogers)
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Sep 12 - 10:22 AM

Thanks Joe for that input

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Lock-Keeper (Stan Rogers)
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 04 Sep 12 - 04:30 PM

Glad to hear you've "discovered" Stan's songs now, Dennis.
Remind me next time we meet and I'll be glad to sing Lock-keeper for you - it's always been one of my favourites, and along with Field Behind The Plow and Lies is probably the most requested of those of Stan's that I sing..

For those interested, the Borealis label has embarked on a programme of reissuing Stan's CDs in remastered versions that sound great, they've brought out three titles so far along with the Best Of that was mentioned further up this thread. Worth investing...

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Lock-Keeper (Stan Rogers)
From: SINSULL
Date: 05 Sep 12 - 08:00 PM

Kendall's recording was the first time I heard this song. "Two men who will never see eye to eye..." It's his voice I hear when I read the lyrics.
Great lyrics, beautiful tune and the captain once again stands back and lets the song be itself.
Thanks for the lyrics and the link, Joe.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Lock-Keeper (Stan Rogers)
From: kendall
Date: 06 Sep 12 - 02:04 PM

Thanks, Sins, I value your opinion very highly.
It's a constant source of grief to me that I will never sing that song again. Or any other.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Lock-Keeper (Stan Rogers)
From: Dennis the Elder
Date: 07 Sep 12 - 02:49 AM

You told some good tales in Yorkshire in 2011 Kendall. even without a singing voice you certainly entertained us at the Yorkshire Gathering. I missed your and Jacqui's presence this year. I would love to hear you singing the Lock Keeper, How can I get hold of a copy, please. best wishes Dennis

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Lock-Keeper (Stan Rogers)
From: SINSULL
Date: 07 Sep 12 - 10:41 AM

So am I the only one who thinks the Southern Cross over my shoulder is far more appealing than life safe at home? Or am I just getting old and finally having some regrets?
Thread creep - sorry

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Lock-Keeper (Stan Rogers)
From: Dennis the Elder
Date: 09 Sep 12 - 06:45 AM

I have found the Lock Keeper on your CD I Remember Loving You I just now need a copy of it.
Not sure if Timberhead music have a copy or wether they deliver to Yorkshire. I have been trying the Net, but so far had no success. Anyone know if it is available this side, and if so how I can get a copy?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Lock-Keeper (Stan Rogers)
From: SINSULL
Date: 09 Sep 12 - 09:02 AM

I am sure someone from the Getaway can get a copy to you. If kendall still has some,

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Lock-Keeper (Stan Rogers)
From: Dennis the Elder
Date: 24 Sep 12 - 03:31 PM

I have not yet succeeded in getting a copy, I don't mind paying.
You mention The Getaway, Sinsull, how would I do this please?
Are there copies available, anywhere Kendall and Jacqui, you help would me much valued.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Lock-Keeper (Stan Rogers)
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 24 Sep 12 - 03:59 PM

Back in the mid-'80's I recorded and instrumental version of Lock-keeper I played it at Home County in London, Ont when Valerie Rogers was listening. She was very complimentary. I always appreciated that.