Michael Whelan ( the poet of renous ) penned these words. The actual poem is quite long so I present a compact version set loosley to the song "Where the Silvery Colorado Wends It's way. I borrowed from the Carter Family version of that song for the melody
lyrics
Far within the forest scene,
Where the trees forever green,
Form a contrast to the beech and birches grey,
Where the snow lies white and deep,
And the song birds seem to sleep,
And cease their sweetest singing all the day.
In a lumber camp one day, While the crew were faraway,
And no one there but cook and boss alone,
A sad tragedy took place, And death won another race,
For the young cook swiftly passed to the unknown;
When the crew returned that night,
What a sad scene met their sight,
There lay the young cook silent, cold and dead,
Death was in his curling hair, In his young face pale and fair,
While his knapsack formed a pillow for his head.
From the belt about his waist All his money was misplaced,
Which made the men suspect some serious wrong,
Was it murder cold and dread, That befell the fair young dead
Where the dark and deep Dungarvon rolls along?
A tear was in each eye, Each heart it heaved a sigh,
While through each breast the strangest feeling throng;
When each reverent head was bared,
As his funeral they prepared,
Where the mighty deep Dungarvon rolls along.
When the crew returned at night
Their dear comrade still they mourned,
While the shades o'night were falling o'er the hill,
All that long and fearful night
All the camp was in affright,
Such fearful whoops and yells the forest fill;
Pale and ghastly was each face,
"We shall leave this fearful place,
For this camp unto the demons does belong,
Ere the dawning of the day
We will hasten far away
From where the dark Dungarvon rolls along.”
Since that day, so goes the word,
Fearful sounds have long been heard,
Far round the scene where lies the woodsman's grave,
Whoops the stoutest hearts to thrill,
Yells that warmest blood to chill,
Sends terror to the bravest of the brave;
Be this story false or true, I have told it unto you,
As I heard it from the folklore all life long,
So I hope all strife will cease, And our people dwell in peace,
Where the dark and deep Dungarvon sweeps along
Mike Bravener began his career as a professional entertainer in 2003. He won many awards as a professional Elvis Tribute
Artist. He's well known for rockabilly. Mike has just released an album of Traditional Miramichi and New Brunswick Folk music from the 19th century. This album and tracks are a weekly feature for the summer on CBC's info am shows in Fredericton, Moncton and Saint-John....more
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