Down at Gassy Jack's

from Stirring Up Ghosts Vol 1&2 by Tiller's Folly

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All songs, music & lyrics by Bruce Coughlan (SOCAN) except: The Ballad of John Rae by Bruce Coughlan & Jim Smith (SOCAN)
All tracks produced by Laurence Knight except: Laurence Knight & Steven Drake (15, 23) Joby Baker (4, 21, 24) Bruce Coughlan (6, 14, 20) Mastered & re-mastered by Joby Baker Thank-you to our families, friends and fans for all your support and inspiration!!
Thanks to everyone who contributed to our Kickstarter Stirring Up Ghosts initiative. Special thanks to Rob Armstrong, Katharine Barrett, Bob Chenoweth and the Lexvolds. Special thanks again to Dave & Paula Reed who’s initial contribution made this project possible.

lyrics

DOWN AT GASSY JACK'S

Captain John Deighton was, as most accounts convey
With a bold outgoing nature, well regarded in his day
Now history affords us that beside the western sea
Jack Deighton built this city by his hospitality

Aboard the "Flying Dutchman" He’d first gained some renown
As a pilot on the Fraser, he supplied the goldrush towns
'Till he saw an opportunity on the shore by Hastings Mill
Well he built himself a public house and they talk about it still

Now there's good clean fun,
Down at Gassy Jack's there's a barrel in the back
And the whiskey flows like water, when you feel a little slack
When you’re dogged-tired from workin', just sit down and relax
Where the customer is always king, down at Gassy Jack's

Jack took his wife and her family and put them all in a war canoe
With a yellow dog, some broken chairs, a few odd chickens too
And with these odd amenities, though the craft was over-flowin'
Sat a great big barrel of whiskey, to set the whole thing going

Jack broached the keg by a maple tree and he doled the whiskey out
To the thirsty sawmill workers who had gathered 'round about
In return for all his kindness, what a sight was soon beheld
Within a day where Deighton stood, they’d built a small hotel

Down at Gassy Jack's there's a barrel in the back
And the whiskey flows like water, if you feel a little slack
When you’re dogged-tired of working', just sit down and relax
Where the customer is always king, down at Gassy Jack's

Well it wasn't long 'till Jack's caught on and business starts to boom
Sellin' hooch to ship-jumped sailors, serving food & letting rooms
He soon had neighbours movin' in, and the place was all ablaze
The boozers packed with loggers, dancing girls and poker games

What first was known as Gastown became Granville, then Vancouver
And for it’s hospitality it’s praised the wide world over
From an up-sprung  little shanty to a city of acclaim
That’s the tale of Gassy Jack who gave the place its fame

Now there's good clean fun,
Down at Gassy Jack's there's a barrel in the back
And the whiskey flows like water, when you feel a little slack
When you’re dogged-tired from workin', just sit down and relax
Where the customer is always king, down at Gassy Jack's

credits

from Stirring Up Ghosts Vol 1&2, released June 1, 2015
Bruce Coughlan – vocals (all tracks) acoustic guitar (2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24) wood flute (1, 5, 10, 13, 14) whistles (1, 5, 14, 20, 24)
Laurence Knight – electric bass (all tracks) vocals (7, 12, 16, 18, 19, 22, 23)
Nolan Murray – fiddle (5, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24) mandolin (4, 5, 6, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24) 5-string banjo (5, 14, 22, 23)
Joby Baker – drums (4, 20, 21, 24) Whurlitzer piano (4) vocals (20)
Ian Cameron – fiddle (1, 11) mandolin (1)
Noel Chalmers – military drum (20)
Aaron Chapman – vocals (14)
John Cowan – vocals (15)
Doug Cox – dobro (21)
Jack Duncan – percussion (1)
Colleen Eccleston – vocals (21)
Bear Erickson – elec. guitar (20) vocals (20)
Geoff Eyre – drums (2, 8, 17)
Tatiana Hancheroff – vocals (17)
Daryl Havers – accordion (3)
Dave Keogh – vocals (14)
Larry Knechtel – Hammond (15)
Craig McGregor – acoustic guitar (7, 10, 13, 17) elec. guitar (3, 17) octave mandolin (8) mandolin (9)
Jim McWilliams – bagpipes (20)
Sandy Marshall – bagpipes (20)
Chris Nordquist – drums (14, 15, 19, 23)
Gord Maxwell – vocals (2, 3, 11, 18, 22)
Aiden O’Brien – uillean pipes & whistles (4) vocals (4)
Paul O’Brien – vocals (4)
Peter Padden – vocals (2)
Eric Reed – elec. guitar (23) mandolin (6, 16) vocals (16)
Phil Robertson – drums (5, 12, 18, 22)
Mike Sanyshyn – fiddle (3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 17, 22) mandolin (8, 12, 22)
David Sinclair – elec. guitar (4)
Victor Smith – fiddle (9) whistles (3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13) silver flute (17)
Shawn Soucy – drums (3, 9, 10, 13) percussion (8, 9, 10, 13)
Robbie Steininger – acoustic guitar (1, 5, 22) elec. guitar (18) dobro (18, 22)
Chris Stevens – 5-string banjo (7, 9, 12)
Ed Wagstaff – bagpipes (20)
Valdy – vocals (24)

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Bruce Coughlan Maple Ridge, British Columbia

Pacific Canadian-based recording & performing artist, Bruce Coughlan has spent decades making Acoustic Roots Music Music of all descriptions. An expressive singer and rock-solid guitarist, Bruce is driven by one guiding principle: It's all about the Song. ... more

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