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26 Feb 11 - 02:13 PM (#3103147) Subject: Lyr Add: Steamboat Days (Charley Noble) From: Charley Noble In the early 1900's small steamboats were the preferred way to travel from one part of Midcoast Maine to another. Even a small village such as Riggsville (to be renamed Robinhood in 1918) had its regularly scheduled service. Here's a public link to my Facebook album of these steamboats: click here for Facebook images! I was thinking about these steamboats the other night when I couldn't get to sleep because of a bad cold, and began composing verses. This morning I spent some time polishing them up and fitting a tune. So here's what we have, your navigation directions from Bath, Maine, to Boothbay Harbor (copy and paste into WORD/TIMES/12 to line up chords): Words and tune by Charles Ipcar, © 2/26/2011 Steamboats Days G------------C-----------------------------------F----C Now we're steaming out from the Kenne-bec Pier, F------------------------------------G Shovel in the coal and let her run! C---------------------------------G---C Hear our whistle blow loud and clear! -------------F---------------------------------------G When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun! Chorus: G--------------C------------------------------F---C Now there's many a steamer that runs just fine, F------------------------------------G Shovel in the coal and let her run! --------------C--------------------------------------G---C But they'll never beat the boats of the East-ern Line! -------------F---------------------------------------G When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun! Now swing her hard into the Sasanoa River Shovel in the coal and let her run! Keep to the channel or you're stuck there forever! When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun! Through the Upper Hell Gates, steady and fast, Shovel in the coal and let her run! Don't scrape the rocks as we fly past. When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun! Past Hockomock Bluff and cross the Bay, Shovel in the coal and let her run! For Castle Island now bear away. When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun! Through the Lower Hell Gates to the Westport Pier Shovel in the coal and let her run! Unload the dry goods that are wanted there. When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun! Then it's down the river to the Riggsville Dock Shovel in the coal and let her run! Where the summer folks all wait in a flock. When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun! Through Goose Rock Passage to Five Islands Pier Shovel in the coal and let her run! There's barrels of salt-fish, standing near. When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun! Cross the Sheepscot past the Middle Mark, Shovel in the coal and let her run! Wave at the seals as they sun on the rocks. When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun! Nose into Southport for one more stop, Shovel in the coal and let her run! Then thread Townsend's Gut through the chop. When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun! Now Boothbay Harbor's coming into view Shovel in the coal and let her run! But there's so much traffic, what can we do? When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun! They's sailboats sailing all round, Shovel in the coal and let her run! And there's one off the bow upside down! When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun! Now we're safely moored at the Boothbay Pier, Shovel in the coal and let her run! And it's off to Skip's for a 'Gansett* beer! When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun! * Narragansett Beer was one of the oldest and cheapest beers available back then. This song is much too long and not terribly exciting but at least now I should be able to get some sleep! Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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26 Feb 11 - 02:52 PM (#3103163) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Steamboat Days (Charley Noble) From: ChanteyLass Charley, you may want to share these lyrics with Narragansett Beer. They are on Facebook. |
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26 Feb 11 - 04:48 PM (#3103218) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Steamboat Days (Charley Noble) From: Charley Noble I'll drink to that! Actually I'd prefer something much better. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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28 Feb 11 - 10:14 AM (#3104227) Subject: Lyr Add: STEAMBOAT DAYS (Charles Ipcar) From: Charley Noble Here's some revisions to the above draft. I've added some G7 to the melody, dropped the concept of a chorus (it's long enough without it even when done at a brisk pace), and revised some of the words (copy and paste into WORD/TIMES/12 to line up chords): Words and tune by Charles Ipcar, © 2/26/2011 Key: F (5/C) Steamboats Days G-----G7-----C------------------F-----C----G Now there's many a steamer looks just fine, G7-F------------------------------------G Oh, shovel in the coal and let her run! G7----------C--------------------------------------G---C But they'll never beat the boats of the East-ern Line! -------------F---------------------------------------G When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun! Now we're steamin' out from the Kennebec Pier, Oh, shovel in the coal and let her run! Hear her whistle, loud and clear! When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun! Now swing her hard for the Sasanoa River, Oh, shovel in the coal and let her run! Keep to the channel or we're stuck here forever! When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun! Down the Upper Hell Gates, steady and fast, Oh, shovel in the coal and let her run! Don't scrape the ledge as we fly past! When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun! Past Hockomock Bluff and cross the Bay, Oh, shovel in the coal and let her run! For Castle Island now bear away – When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun! Through the Lower Hell Gates to the Westport Pier Oh, shovel in the coal and let her run! Drop off the dry goods that's ordered here – When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun! Now it's down the River to the Riggsville Dock, Oh, shovel in the coal and let her run! Where the summer folks come down in flocks – When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun! Through Goose Rock Passage to Five Islands Pier, Oh, shovel in the coal and let her run! There's barrels of salt-cod a-waiting here – When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun! Cross the Sheepscot, past the Middle Mark, Oh, shovel in the coal and let her run! Wave at the seals sunning on the rocks – When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun! Nose into Southport for one more stop, Oh, shovel in the coal and let her run! Then thread the Gut, plow through the chop – When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun! Now Boothbay Ha'bor's comin' into view, Oh, shovel in the coal and let her run! But there's so many boats, what shall we do? When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun! There's summer sloops sailin' all round, Oh, shovel in the coal and let her run! And there's one off the bow upside down! When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun! Now we're safely moored by the Boothbay Pier, Oh, shovel in the coal and let her run! Then we're off to Skip's for a round of beer! When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun! So there's many a steamer looks just fine, Oh, shovel in the coal and let her run! But they'll never beat the boats of the Eastern Line! When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun! I'll see if we can record a sample next weekend. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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28 Feb 11 - 08:13 PM (#3104646) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Steamboat Days (Charley Noble) From: ChanteyLass If you post a link to the sample, I'll listen! |
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28 Feb 11 - 09:28 PM (#3104678) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Steamboat Days (Charley Noble) From: Barbara What about "When we make Boothbay our work is done." instead? Blessings, Barbara |
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01 Mar 11 - 08:49 AM (#3104912) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Steamboat Days (Charley Noble) From: Charley Noble The chords are still shifting a little. Barbara- "When we make Boothbay our work is done." I think not. After a hard day's work a round of beer is the thing, and adds an extra kick to the ending line. There's some additional photos I've added to the Facebook album via this public link: click here for update! Could someone who is not a Facebook member check it out, and report back if it really works for them? Charley Noble |
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06 Mar 11 - 12:07 PM (#3108141) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Steamboat Days (Charley Noble) From: Charley Noble As promised here's a link to the current slightly revised lyrics and a MP3 sample of how I sing this song: Click here! I was thinking this song would be too long but I rattled it off in about three and a half minutes. There are some phrases that will sound better with more practice but I'm reasonably pleased with the song. It's one of those songs that "fills a gap" in the musical record of Midcoast Maine. At least I haven't found an old song yet that does the same thing, just a couple of poems which pay tribute to particular boats and their crews. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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07 Mar 11 - 08:16 AM (#3108858) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Steamboat Days (Charley Noble) From: Charley Noble One time around spun our gallant thread... |
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08 Mar 11 - 08:16 PM (#3110051) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Steamboat Days (Charley Noble) From: Charley Noble Two times around... |
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25 May 11 - 09:42 AM (#3160308) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Steamboat Days (Charley Noble) From: Charley Noble I've been updating the vintage images associated with this song on my Facebook page. There's a public link to Facebook in my initial thread post if you'd like to view them. This photo essay is the basis for a Powerpoint presentation, introduced with the song, that I've been doing here in Maine and it's been a whole lot of fun. Cheerily, Charley Noble |