Song about elite firefighters?

Subject: Song about elite firefighters?
From: GUEST,Julia L
Date: 01 Jul 13 - 03:32 PM

I'm trying to remember / find a song I heard recently (in the last 5 years) about an elite firefighter in the hospital recalling the disaster that put him there. All of his companions were killed in the fire and he is the only witness to what happened. It is a stunning song and completely undid me at the time...

help appreciated
Julia

Subject: RE: Song about elite firefighters?
From: GUEST,Julia L
Date: 01 Jul 13 - 04:23 PM

Just found this,about the Storm King Mountain disaster in 1994 though it is not the one I had in mind

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kbSM0veJRs

Subject: RE: Song about elite firefighters?
From: Rapparee
Date: 01 Jul 13 - 04:29 PM

Don't forget "The Bravest" by Tom Paxton.

Subject: RE: Song about elite firefighters?
From: GUEST,Julia L
Date: 01 Jul 13 - 05:30 PM

Yes,Rapparee, a truly great song.

The one I am remembering is about wildfire fighters. In fact I think I found it (Wikipedia)

The Mann Gulch fire was the subject of Norman Maclean's book Young Men and Fire,[9] which was published after his death. The book won the National Book Critics Circle Award for non-fiction in 1992.

Norman Maclean's son John wrote a book in 2003 titled Fire and Ashes: On the Front Lines Battling Wildfires, and it also includes a section on the Mann Gulch Fire. In 2004, John N. Maclean also published an article called "Fire and Ashes: The Last Survivor of the Mann Gulch Fire," in Montana: The Magazine of Western History. The article was adapted from the Mann Gulch section of his book, in which he interviewed Bob Sallee, the last remaining survivor of the fire.[10]
Folk songs

James Keelaghan wrote a song about this fire entitled "Cold Missouri Waters" after being inspired by Young Men and Fire. The song was covered by Richard Shindell, Dar Williams, and Lucy Kaplansky on their album Cry Cry Cry. It was also covered by Hank Cramer in his album, Days Gone By. It is sung from the perspective of foreman Dodge, lying on his deathbed dying of Hodgkin's disease five years after the fire. It imagines Dodge saying of his decision to set the escape fire:

"I don't know why, I just thought it. I struck a match to waist-high grass, running out of time. Tried to tell them, 'Step into this fire I set. We can't make it, this is the only chance you'll get.' But they cursed me, ran for the rocks above instead. I lay face down and prayed above the cold Missouri waters."

Ross Brown, a musician/songwriter from Townsend, MT (about 35 miles south of Helena) wrote another song entitled "The Mann Gulch." A scratch version of this song is available on YouTube.

The song also has been recorded on Black Irish Band's album "Into the Fire" released in 2007. The album is all songs about firefighters. The album also features Michael Martin Murphey. Underneath Montana Skies is another song about the Mann Gulch fire [11] written by Patrick Michael Karnahan also on this album.

Subject: RE: Song about elite firefighters?
From: Jeri
Date: 01 Jul 13 - 05:48 PM

If I'd seen your post earlier, I would have known it was Cold Missouri Waters, but it seems you answered your own question.

Subject: RE: Song about elite firefighters?
From: GUEST,Julia L
Date: 01 Jul 13 - 06:23 PM

Thanks Jeri-
It would be interesting to hear other songs made on this subject

Subject: RE: Song about elite firefighters?
From: mg
Date: 01 Jul 13 - 07:03 PM

Craig Brandeis of Portland has written a great one.

I heard one long ago about a hunchback miner who took to logging but was not very good at it...a fire came and he saved the day. It was a great song.

Subject: RE: Song about elite firefighters?
From: Rapparee
Date: 01 Jul 13 - 08:31 PM

To me, ALL firefighters are an elite.

Subject: RE: Song about elite firefighters?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jul 13 - 08:49 PM

The firefighters who died in Arizona are part of a very select group (they have mountain climbing skills along with firefighting skills) and are happiest when you call them HotShots.

SRS

Subject: RE: Song about elite firefighters?
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jul 13 - 11:52 PM

IT WOULD BE HARD to find find any song more recognized than this in the D.T.



http://mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=5410


Sincerely,

Subject: RE: Song about elite firefighters?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 02 Jul 13 - 02:12 AM

clicky for guest's post above
SMOKEY THE BEAR

Subject: RE: Song about elite firefighters?
From: GUEST,Square The Circle
Date: 02 Jul 13 - 07:18 AM

Not sure but how about James Keelahan Cold Missouri Waters

Subject: RE: Song about elite firefighters?
From: GUEST,Julia L
Date: 02 Jul 13 - 05:31 PM

Yes, that's the one- incredible song.
Seems like there should be more in the tradition....

Subject: RE: Song about elite firefighters?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 03 Jul 13 - 09:57 AM

Eric Bogle wrote one about the Black Saturday in Australia in 2009 when nearly 180 people in upper Victoria state died in bush fires.
Simply titled, Bushfire, the lyrics are on his own website.

Subject: RE: Song about elite firefighters?
From: GUEST,Julia L
Date: 03 Jul 13 - 09:48 PM

Thanks, Tattie- I might have known there would be something from Australia. I'll check it out.
J