Digital Tradition Mirror

Beaver Island Boys

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Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

Beaver Island Boys
(Daniel Malloy)

Come all brother sailors, I hope you'll draw nigh
For to hear the sad news, it will cause you to cry
Of the noble Johnny Gallegher, who sailor to and fro
He was lost on Lake Michigan where the stormy winds do blow.

"Oh, Johnny, my dear son, in the dead of the night
I woke from a dream which gave me a fright
And to Traverse City I beseech you not to go
For you'll never cross Lake Michigan where the stormy winds do blow."

"Oh mother, dear mother, those dreams are not true
I will shortly return and prove it to you
For the Lord will protect me wherever I go
And I'll cross o'er Lake Michigan where the stormy winds blow."

It was in October in '73
We left Beaver harbor and had a calm sea
Bound away, Traverse City was our destination to go
We were crossing Lake Michigan where the stormy winds blow.

We left Traverse City at nine the next day
And down to Elk Rapids we then bore away
We took in our stores and to sea we did go
We were crossing Lake Michigan where the stormy winds blow.

At nine that same night a light we did spy
That is Beaver Island, we are drawing nigh
We carried all sails, the Lookout, she did go
We were crossing Lake Michigan where the stormy winds blow.

Oh, Johnny got up and he spoke to his crew
He says, "Now brave boys, be steady and true
Stand by for your halliards, let your main halliards go,
There's a squall on Lake Michigan where the stormy winds blow."

The Lookout she's a-running before a hard gale
Upset went her rudder and overboard went her sail
The billows were foaming like mountains of snow
We shall ne'er cross Lake Michigan where the stormy winds blow.

Siz own brother Johnny, "It grieves my heart sore
To think we will never return to shore
God help our poor parents, their tears down will flow
For we'll sleep in Lake Michigan where the stormy winds blow."

DT #789
Laws D17
From Lomax, Our Singing Country
Collected from Johnny Green of Beaver Island MI in 1938
SOF
oct96

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!