Died far too young. Perished in a cabin fire aboard an Air Canada flight that made an emergency landing in Cincinnati. He apparently returned to the cabin to pull out other passengers but succumbed to the smoke inside the cabin. His lasting legacy are his songs. Requiescet in pace.
Not the good ones, Canadians write songs about American ships that went down as well. " Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald ". Buy a other one of our best, Gordon Lightfoots. Check it out. 🍻🇨🇦😎
First time I ever heard it was during Fleet Week, after last call. Six Canadians, two Brits an Aussie and a Frechman were singing it. Not a dry eye among them. Of course that might have had something to do with the $2200 tab they ran up...
@@gooel I learned an alternate version of "Heart of Oak" at Sea Cadet camp in my teens and the C.O. of my Corps was not happy to hear me singing it. I was given the choice to either join the marching band or find another branch (ie: Army or Air Cadets) to join. So I learned how to play the glockenspiel LMAO.
You want to see 100% of bar patrons immediately stop and sing along a Capella to a song, play this in a Nova Scotia bar. It’s unreal to have everyone in the place singing without any music.
Rogers would have been proud to know that the crew of the Northern Harrier sang this shanty to pass the time as we did the Trans-Superior International Yacht Race, August 2019. The best part? We were a crew put together online, Canadian-American. We came to Sault Ste. Marie, MI from as far as Thunder Bay, ON and Baltimore, MD. On the third day, alone on deck, I started to sing this song and a lad from Duluth, MN actually knew the lyrics, too, and joined in.
@@Historyguy-xu5ht Lol! I landed in Duluth in early August and could tell just by looking around that the place was normally Arctic! All the photos and stories at the museum there? It is as all about winter and a shipping town encased in merciless ice for 45 weeks a year! I even shiver writing this! 🤣
I first heard this song when we ported at Halifax, Nova Scotia. We were on a pub crawl,; a bunch of officers off our US submarine, with a bunch of British and Canadian navy guys. it was over Easter weekend, and a bunch of us sailors were away from home. I don't think I ever enjoyed myself more on liberty in a foreign port as I did then. I don't know what it is but Canadian folks just seem so good to be with and do things with. edit: BTW Stan Rogers died a hero. He was trying to save people from a plane tragedy, but died doing so. He truly was a hero.
A lot of Nova Scotians like my father served in the RCN, which by the end of WW2 and for decades after was very respectable in size (Canada even had carriers) He told me it was common for the USN, RN and RCN to sail together, and by the sounds of things, he was just as fond of his shore leave in Florida and in the U.K.! He mentioned they even tried to behave themselves while there, which is quite complimentary as I've been told there are bars in Bermuda that to this day have signs that say "No Dogs or Canadian Navy Allowed!". What most Canadians and Americans aren't aware of, is that the Canadian Navy contributed significantly to efforts during the Cuban Missile Crisis and apparently worked as one with the USN! I heard about this through my father and many of his friends who also served on various ships and aircraft, but for whatever reason, their involvement has been kept very quiet on both sides until recently. Currently, Canadians are pizzed at what Liberals have done to our military, hope to see more future cooperation as we fix our mistakes! www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2022/october/cuban-crisis-northern-vantage
“Before most likely succumbing to smoke inhalation, he used his last moments to guide other passengers to safety with his booming voice. I’ve heard more than one Canuck proudly declare that for all Rogers’ odes to Canada, he was never more Canadian than in his final words: ‘Let me help you.' “. Amber Frost, passenger, AC 797, after Stan Rogers helped her off the plane, before succumbing to smoke inhalation.
Lyrics: Oh, the year was 1778 How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now A letter of marque came from the King To the scummiest vessel I've ever seen God damn them all I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold We'd fire no guns, shed no tears But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's Privateers Oh Elcid Barrett, cried the town How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now For twenty brave men all fishermen who Would make for him the Antelope's crew God damn them all I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold We'd fire no guns, shed no tears But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's Privateers The Antelope sloop was a sickening sight How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now She'd a list to the port and and her sails in rags And the cook in the scuppers with the staggers and jags God damn them all I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold We'd fire no guns, shed no tears But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's Privateers On the King's birthday we put to sea How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now We were ninety-one days to Montego Bay Pumping like madmen all the way God damn them all I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold We'd fire no guns, shed no tears But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's Privateers On the ninety-sixth day we sailed again How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now When a bloody great Yankee hove in sight With our cracked four-pounders we made to fight God damn them all I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold We'd fire no guns, shed no tears But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's Privateers How the Yankee lay low down with gold How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now She was broad and fat and loose in stays But to catch her took the Antelope two whole days God damn them all I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold We'd fire no guns, shed no tears But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's Privateers Then at length we stood two cables away How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now Our cracked four-pounders made an awful din But with one fat ball the Yank stove us in God damn them all I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold We'd fire no guns, shed no tears But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's Privateers The Antelope shook and pitched on her side How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now Barrett was smashed like a bowl of eggs And the main truck carried off both me legs God damn them all I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold We'd fire no guns, shed no tears But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's Privateers So here I lay in my twenty-third year How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now It's been six years since we sailed away And I just made Halifax yesterday God damn them all I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold We'd fire no guns, shed no tears But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's Privateers
I was overjoyed to be riding my bicycle home from work tonight (Sep 18th, 2015) to hear Stan Roger's "Barrett's Privteers" being sung by a group of young guys in their 20's emanating from "Grossman's Tavern" in Toronrto. I stopped on my bike at the open window to join them for a refrain, my heart refreshed to hear a new generation embracing the songs of a great Canadian music hero, so easily forgotten by those who simply follow the "top 40" of today's radio and TV.
+Jeremy Nasmith I'm an American of Irish descent who lived in New Brunswick as a small child and was taught this song by my dad (Boston Irish)- he said "it's part of the tradition even though the Americans are the bad guys"
Last summer, my wife and I were at the Old Triangle in Halifax and heard McGinty sing 'Barrett's Privateers' - Canada's 'Waltzing Matilda' and 'Northwest Passage' - Canada's other national anthem. We're from Cut & Shoot, Texas and like everyone else in the audience, we knew all the words to both songs. Stan Rogers is a Canadian National Treasure. He needs to be treasured accordingly.
That's awesome! But the Old Triangle is one of the worst Irish pubs here in Halifax. I live here and I was born here, and there are so many better pubs here. I recommend the Celtic Corner in Dartmouth. Ten times better than most pubs in Halifax. I recommend skipping out on the Old Triangle and getting the real Nova Scotia experience at the Celtic Corner, I recommend the steak and Guinness pie.
I've sung this song in many public places, never sobre, and was always joined by volunteers to sing the chorus. You have to be in good shape to sing this song. I was a marathoner, and would still struggle to get through this without running out of breath.
One of the most tragic losses in music history. Stan Rogers should be alive now with an extra 38 years of material and sitting on a Halifax pier looking on an amazing career.
They played this song on Parliament Hill in Ottawa... Basically, with the whole "God damn them all!" line as a main bit of the chorus, playing in public, by the government, it made me proud to be Canadian.
I was about 4 when I first heard this song. I remember everyone gathered in our kitchen, feet stomping, drinks flowing and me sitting on my dad's knee waiting to sing "God damn them all"..the only time I had permission to swear. 40 years later and I'm still listening to Stan.🍁
Every time I am fortunate enough to get together and splash a little booze with my old high school buddies, it's only a matter of time before someone goes "ohhhhh the year was 1778". Makes no difference who starts it, every single one of us will immediately drop what we're doing and belt out "HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!" and then the entire song happens. I don't really remember how or why that tradition started but I sure do like how it's going
Saw him at the Folk Fest in Kerville Texas in 1983. We headed home with such a high but then heard he'd died on the way home due to a fire on his plane. Incredibly heartbreaking.
Your historical past? Not quite! Nova Scotia (which included New Brunswick at the time) was damn near the 14th stripe on the US flag! The majority of the people supported patriotism but were severely outnumbered by the massive British military presence. You would know better than most how Halifax is a fond sibling to Boston, well it was 250 years ago too! When the Brits occupied Boston, the supplies bound for them were being burnt in Halifax! Most of the "English" population in NS was originally from the New England colonies. The rest were Irish, Scottish, Acadian and Native who weren't fond of the Brits one bit either!. It was only after the rebel forces started attacking and looting the civilian population that sentiments changed.
It's crazy just how young Stan really was. With that voice of his, he sounds like he was over 40... but nope, just barely older than 30. It's interesting to ponder what could've happened if he wasn't taken from us. He surely would have had a really lengthy career. He'd probably still be going strong today, too.
Rogers died alongside 22 other passengers most likely of smoke inhalation on June 2, 1983, while traveling on Air Canada Flight 797 (a McDonnell Douglas DC-9) after performing at the Kerrville Folk Festival.
The airliner was flying from Dallas, Texas to Toronto and Montreal when a fire of unknown ignition source within the vanity or toilet shroud of the aft washroom forced it to make an emergency landing at the Greater Cincinnati Airport in northern Kentucky. There were initially no visible flames, and after attempts extinguish the fire were unsuccessful, smoke filled the cabin. Upon landing, the plane's doors were opened, allowing the five crew and eighteen of the passengers to escape, but approximately 60 to 90 seconds into the evacuation the oxygen rushing in from outside caused a flash fire. Rogers was one of the passengers still on the plane at the time of the fire. His ashes were scattered in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Nova Scotia.
My dad will randomly sing this to the road trips when I was a child. Even though we didn't know what he was saying we will follow with the chorus every time. He was a Canadian and he married my mother here in Uruguay
On a trip to Canada we visited the Algonquin national park and went on a canoe trip. It was all day so by the end of the day or the return journey we were getting tired. To keep us going our guide started singing this song! He got us all singing along and we forgot our tired arms and paddled like a pioneer. Brilliant
As an Maritimer.. and lover of pubs and beer.. I just might of heard this song once or twice.. Mug hits the table in time to the music. What a loss to the world. R.I.P. Stan
that is hilarious and wonderful! thanks for sharing Jenny :) what great family memories you have connected to this song! the sea is in my blood but im landlocked now. my family are landlubbers and they not into singing let alone hangin out with me lol. count your blessings Jenny and keep your family close in the bosom of your safe harbor. and keep on singing! :) many blessings, -Aimee
Oh, the year was 1778, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW! A letter of marque came from the king, To the scummiest vessel I'd ever seen, God damn them all! I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold We'd fire no guns-shed no tears Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's Privateers. Oh, Elcid Barrett cried the town, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW! For twenty brave men all fishermen who would make for him the Antelope's crew God damn them all! I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold We'd fire no guns-shed no tears Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's Privateers. The Antelope sloop was a sickening sight, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW! She'd a list to the port and her sails in rags And the cook in scuppers with the staggers and the jags God damn them all! I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold We'd fire no guns-shed no tears Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's Privateers. On the King's birthday we put to sea, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW! We were 91 days to Montego Bay Pumping like madmen all the way God damn them all! I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold We'd fire no guns-shed no tears Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's Privateers. On the 96th day we sailed again, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW! When a bloody great Yankee hove in sight With our cracked four pounders we made to fight God damn them all! I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold We'd fire no guns-shed no tears Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's Privateers. The Yankee lay low down with gold, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW! She was broad and fat and loose in the stays But to catch her took the Antelope two whole days God damn them all! I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold We'd fire no guns-shed no tears Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's Privateers. Then at length we stood two cables away, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW! Our cracked four pounders made an awful din But with one fat ball the Yank stove us in God damn them all! I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold We'd fire no guns-shed no tears Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's Privateers. The Antelope shook and pitched on her side, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW! Barrett was smashed like a bowl of eggs And the Maintruck carried off both me legs God damn them all! I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold We'd fire no guns-shed no tears Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's Privateers. So here I lay in my 23rd year, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW! It's been 6 years since we sailed away And I just made Halifax yesterday God damn them all! I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold We'd fire no guns-shed no tears Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's Privateers.
Goddammit Stan Rogers' story breaks my heart, and I can't hear his voice without thinking of how horrible his death was. His voice will forever haunt me.
The soul in the last verse, not just in the lyrics with the heartbreaking realization this poor kid is not only just 23 and uselessly crippled but that he's only just gotten home but the way Stan sings it is emotionally astounding
todd canton my family survived and died in the Titanic, so it seems I’m still unsinkable. Mollie lived about thirty miles drum us in KCMO. Great Grandma Mollie Brown is about 10 years older or younger than the one in Hannibal and I think I have a grandma and her sister merged as the same woman. US Grant brought back a lot of husbands! I just have no business on the WRONG side of the Arch of St. Louis! Good grief, younger republics in this country are like different countries compared to the states
I remember going to see Stan with my mom , my sister, and some other fans at the Iron Horse in Northampton, MA. What a great concert and Stan's stage presence alone was almost too big for the place, let alone the rest of his band. He was a special man.
whoa. if u've ever been part of a group singing harmony, you know how incredible that feels. can't help but sing along before it's halfway over even if you've never heard it before.
does my nova scotia heart good to hear this. few things are better than to have a few cold ones and have your best friend belt this out for a son back home from out west. thrown in a feed of lobsters and it doesnt get any better anywhere.
My family, the Barnhills, came from Ireland to Nova Scotia pre Nova-Scotia - in 1700! (We've lost the accent.) Many still live in Debert. I visited with my mother, and had that feed of lobsters a few times. No, nothing gets better than that! (But would love to belt this out with friends there. How lovely!)
I have always loved the sound of Stan Rogers! His music and his voice...his songs rooted in history. I recently spoke to some teenagers and they, sadly, had no idea who he was. So I promptly put on Barrett's Privateers. I mean how can you not tap your foot to that! Exposing young people to such an incredible Canadian performer like Stan Rogers and his band is our responsibility as Canadians... keeping our history alive, and musicians who may not be with us anymore.
I remember sitting at the top of the stairs in my first house late at night, as a child, listening to this song as my parents played it downstairs. Great memories.
Blackwells made sure men came back more whole than before, but the gaslighting! smdh Since Maryland was by the ocean, we learned shanty's but Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald was the 70s hit. I do remember when Stan passed, he just wasn't familiar on DC radio stations. This was Jimmy Carter's mission, where the country lost it's disco duck mind. The United States OF the Americas is in default of its Charter. I love this song. We were to have gone back to UK a LONG time ago.
belted this song out with two of my mates in an old sailor's bar, now inhabited generally by college students. The bartender was so pleased he brought us another pitcher of beer for free.
A song of sorrow and a song of the sea. A true inspiration. I'm to set sail from Pensacola to Havana on a 37' cutter at the end of this month. I listen to music like this as I prepare myself, physically and mentally. Cheers for the brilliant shanty. Wish me luck.
Popcorn Horse I still do, thank the good Lord. And thank you for asking. The trip was a success as we came in (safely) 3rd in a filed of 12. Take care. ☺️
Nicholas Patton The voyage was a success. Another great surprise was August of last year crewing J/37 sloop on the Trans-Superior. After surviving a squall that included lightning, hail, 30kt winds and 6ft seas, we spend the 2nd half of the day in pure (but not unwelcome) boredom... I started to sing this song and found a crew member who knew the lyrics! I guess love of sea shanties - even recent ones - isn’t that obscure. Cheer. ☺️
It's amazing where you can find his fans; I dropped in at my college's gaming club and within minutes was surrounded by gamers belting out this song from memory. I was the only one in the room who was born before he died.
Did this song for a presentation to a Girl Scout Troop many years ago in old Sea Dog persona...changed it slightly to "God Take Them All." Gods' Bless Stan and the joy he gave us.
Was out with some mates a few weeks when I suddenly broke out into singing this. To my surprise they joined in with me. Nothing better than a good round of barret's privateers with ya mates out of the blue :D
He died in a plane crash. IIRC, he survived initially, but went back in the plane to save people when said plane exploded, killing him and everyone else in there at the time.
This song brings back so many memories. My dad was big into folk music and I would hear this song blasting from the basement while he worked on his model trains. I don't think I've heard it in over 20 years, but as soon as the chorus started it all came back to me. I wish he was still around to share this video with. I'm sure it would have made him smile. Thank you for posting it.
I'm a CFA but brought my young family to Nova Scotia 17 years ago. I didn't realize how much I had become Nova Scotian until I heard Barrett's Privateers belted out in a pub in St. Johns. I got real misty
As a recent immigrant to Canada I was taught this song by other community radio junkies and assorted students in the pub at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg. Perhaps my favorite anti-war song of all time after years in the peace movement.
Grew up just a stones throw from Canada and Stan’s music was one of the main reasons I learned to play guitar and sing. Each of his songs conjures up a story that we can all see so clearly. I was never able to see him live before he passed, I was able to see his brother. Both great men and great musicians. I miss music like this and the world needs more of it. Substance over flash.
He has been gone over 20 years, and we still miss him. Thanks for posting this -- some friends and myself got thrown out of the James Joyce Pub in Baltimore a couple of years ago for singing this song "too loud" during a break by Ronan Kavanagh. We were honored!
It's probably 40 years ago....waiting at the gates of the Philadelphia Folk Festival for the evening concert...when...someone...started singing this to pass the time. By the second chorus everyone in line was singing.
I've loved this song for almost 20 years. The fact they lose in the end makes it the legendary song that it is! You learn more from your losses in life than your wins.
I first heard this song performed at a renaissance fair of all places (by an act called the Rambling Sailors), and I loved it. It's an awesome song. I've always been drawn to songs that tell a story. All that Bieber and Gaga crap everyone my age listens to... Can't stand it. I listen to real music, thank you. Thanks so much for posting this!!!
My friends and I loved this song as young teenagers in Philly (late 70s or very early 80s). I transcribed the voices as well as I could so we could sing it. I was sorry I never got to see him perform live.
I had a room-mate who played base in a bar band that included a Rankin cousin. They often got gigs in a bar in Penhorn Mall, but hated playing there. It was easy to shift the lyrics to "God-damn the mall". I don't think that anyone noticed, since they kept getting called back.
He died so incredibly young for such an amazing talent. Far too you. I never realised he was diabetic, or at least had a life long illness, which makes his sacrifice for more poignant.
I used to go to the Stan Rogers Folk Festival in Canso, Nova Scotia, every summer. This song was always sung on the main stage on the opening night of the festival, and I loved it. Good memories.
Can't help it when I listen to this, I start to pound the table with the beat and sing along. With an extra beat on the shed-no-tears and a missing one in the Now-I'm-a. And always that uplift on the now in wish-I-was-in-Sherbrook-now!
Was singing this under my breath at work and the other woman in the office chimed in...how I wish I was in Sherbrooke now. Have not smiled so much at work in along while.
I love it when I can listen to a song and learn something historically accurate, if not literally true. I am a combat veteran and it feels great to sing along with this (even though I was US Army).
+Larry Reid : the feeling of camaraderie when struggling your way through this whole harangue is immense, and self-cancelling. Once upon a time; a few of my friends and I would spontaneously burst into this shanty at various venues. Needless to say, we got a lot of free drinks. However, I don't think we ever got past three renditions in three different bars before we called it a night.It's a wonderfully exhausting exercise. ~ S ~
@@notablegoat But Sherbrooke Nova Scotia was founded in 1805 and was known as Sherbrooke, and the one in Quebec was founded in 1763 but was not known as Sherbrooke yet, so you're technically right about the one in Quebec depending on your definition of founded.
I bet there are even Russians who sing along with The Boss and where he was born! This Canadian always sings along with Lee Greenwood - God Bless The USA!
Awesome production. I'm so grateful to be able to find Stan in here. My sister was with him in Texas with some of her friends.....all from Dundas. He stayed a day extra and ended up on the doomed flight and my sister flew the same flight number the next day. I knew four people on Stan's flight. only one of them survived.. It was a dark day and still is.
I just found this song randomly, I gotta say I really need to find so more music like this cause I know nothing about this song but I know I like it. If any one has any recommendations please lets hear em.
Stuart JSA Don't know a lot of his songs but my favourite Stan Rogers song so far is "Northwest Passage". First heard this song in an episode of Due South.
+Will Scheibler "Northwest Passage" is also known as Canada's second national anthem. The depth of Stan Roger's music, and lasting impact on the music scene, is damn near immeasurable. A true Giant!
English is not my first language and while doing some chores in dry January is listened to some Shantys when this song came up in my playlist I would always hear "I wish I wasn't sober now" and I related to that so much :D Furthermore it was difficult but interesting to find this song with only the wrong chorus in mind. Interestingly enough, this song still popped up under the first results when I googled it...
In 2017, during Operation Inherent Resolve, I was deployed on the USS GHW BUSH in the med/gulf. Every day before flight schedule we would sing along to this song (granted it was the Real McKenzies version). Loading bombs and fuel on our jets to drop on ISIS in the early morning with your shop singing this in unison really felt like something pulled out of Master and Commander or Pirates of the Caribbean. Some of my fondest memories.
The tv show Due South is where I found this song in the mid 90s. And I was shocked to find out that he died at the airport that is 10 minutes from my house. I rermember seeing the story of the fire on the news when I was 13, but it was years befvore I realized what a treasure the world lost that day.