The Go-Devils - Jack Haggerty (with lyrics) video free download

I found this group at a Northern Minnesota logging festival years ago. Their music is excellent and has the influences of the settlers of their region. I used early logging photos since the song was written about a logging camp in Michigan by Dan McGinnis, an Irish-American or an Irish immigrant. It is written in the shanty style, which perhaps helped the loggers as they worked. Info to purchase the cd is listed below. Photos are mainly from The Library of Congress. Enjoy!

The Go-Devils:

Will Hollnagel - lead vocals, button box accordian

Kent Johnson - banjo, guitar, percussion, piano accordian, background vocals

Don Vidal - C & D tin whistles, flute, soprano sax, percussion, background vocals

Don Vidal currently runs Mr. Pumpkinhead Productions. For information on purchasing this intriguing cd, call 218-327-0148.

Don Vidal's bio and contacts: http://www.bigwaltersmith.com/bio-donvidal.html

Jack Haggerty Lyrics by Dan McGinnis. More or less as sung by The Go-Devils:

Thanks to http://jonathanramsey.com/songs/JackHaggerty.shtml

I'm a heartbroken raftsman, from Greenville I came

All my virtue's departed with a lass I did fain

From the strong darts of Cupid I've suffered much grief

And my heart's torn a-sunder, I can get no relief

Of my troubles I'll tell you without much delay

Of a sweet little lassie my heart stole away

She's the blacksmith's fair daughter on the Flat River side

And I've always intended to make her my bride

I work on the river where the white waters roar

And my name I've engraved on the high rocky shore

I'm the boy that stands happy on the dark, burling stream

But my thoughts were on Molly, she haunted my dream

I gave her fine jewels, the finest of lace

And the costliest muslins, her form to embrace

I gave her my wages all for to keep safe

I deprived her of nothing I had on this earth

While I worked on the river, I earned quite a stake

I was steadfast and steady, and ne'er played the rake

For Camp Flat and river I'm very well known

And they call me Jack Haggerty, the pride of the town

'Til she wrote me a letter which I did receive

And she said from her promise, herself she'd relieve

To wed with another she'd a long time delayed

And the next time I'd see her she'd no more be a maid

To her mother, Jane Tucker, I lay all the blame

For she caused her leave and go back on my name

To cast off the riggings that God was to tie

And to leave me a rambler 'til the day that I die

So come all ye bold raftsmen with hearts stout and true

Don't trust to a woman 'cause you're beat if you do

And if you do meet one with a dark chestnut curl

Remember Jack Haggerty and the Flat River girl!