Ghost of Simon Fraser

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

/

about

On May 22, 1808, Simon Fraser began an expedition, which has been described as one of the the greatest in North American history, to explore the river then believed to be the Columbia, to its mouth. Fraser had been chosen to spearhead the North West Company's western trade expansion. He established the first four forts west of the Rockies at McLeod, Stuart and Fraser lakes, and at Fort George. Simon Fraser possessed remarkable courage, determination, leadership and insight into human nature. These qualities would all be put to the text in a treacherous journey through uncharted wilderness in pre-contact First Nations territories.

lyrics

THE GHOST OF SIMON FRASER

He started out, into the wild Nechako River
One morning, early, all in the month of May
With Jules Quesnel and dauntless John Stuart
Nineteen Nor’westers, and two guides to lead the way

The work was hard, and the river, unforgiving
A desperate undertaking, to test the will of men
At times they passed, where no human being should venture
O’er precipice and mountain, through a harsh, forbidding land

Oh, Mighty Fraser! Oh, you rolling river
What bold adventurers have traced your rocky shores
And oh, you rambling river, how your restless waters
Echo with the voices of all those who’ve been before

Their journey lay, through the proud and mighty nations
The cradle of the ancients, both bountiful and grand
They’d never seen, an equal to this country
Where people, kind and gentle, extend an open hand

Oh, Mighty Fraser! Oh, you rolling river
Pride of all who’ve made their lives, upon your shore
Oh, you rambling river, how your restless waters
Echo with the voices of all who’ve been before

They swore an oath, each, to him and to their maker
Sooner perish than forsake, they stood as brothers, side by side
They followed him, straight through the gates of Hades
And cast their souls upon the mercy of the tide

I stare alone, across a span of centuries
The Ghost of Simon Fraser, still haunts me in his way
In thirty-six days, he changed the face of history
Unravelling the mystery of who we are today

Oh, Mighty Fraser! Oh, you rolling river
The pride of all who’ve made their lives, upon your shores
Oh, you rambling river, how your restless waters
Echo with the voices of all who’ve been before
Still echo with the voices of all those who’ve been befor

He started out, into the wild Nechako River

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)

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 whose initial contribution made this project possible.

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Bruce Coughlan image

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

contact / help

Contact Bruce Coughlan

Streaming and
Download help

Report this track or account

If you like Bruce Coughlan, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featured guests are the golden-voiced Baby Rose and psyche soulsters Brainstory.
listen now