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about

John Tod led an extraordinary life. He was born a little over 200 years ago. When only 16 he left his home in Scotland bound for the wilds of Rupert's Land (now western Canada). Tod spent the next 40 years in the fur trade, exploring the vast wilderness from Hudson's Bay to the Pacific Fur region then named “New Caledonia". Upon retiring, John Tod was elected a member of British Columbia's first legislature. John Tod became Victoria's very first retiree and the house he built at Oak Bay 160 years ago is the oldest residence in our province.

lyrics

JOHN TOD

Late last evening I had a dream
I met John Tod on the Oak Bay Road
The weathered old ghost of a Hudson’s Bay Trader
With lop-sided grin and old tattered cloths

He’d left his home on the Vale of Leven
Left Stornawa’ on the Edward & Ann
He crossed the great ocean in 1811
Through Hudson’s Bay and to Rupert’s Land

It’s hard imagine the span of a lifetime
As ­­­riddled with peril or moulded by change
Yet he would recall in fondest reflection
The youthful adventures of his former days

Where are ye now, my Hudson’s Bay brothers?
And where are ye now, my comrades of old?
W’ James Murray Yale or Edward Ermatinger
We lived with the Cayuse & Carriers bold

He told how they fought the valiant Nor’Westers
Along the Saskatchewan, long, long ago
And came to this place called “New Caledonia”
A land of promise and riches untold

And as the dream ends, I turned to look back
I see the procession advance down the road
Twenty-eight carriages draped in black crepe
As the world bids adieu to old John Tod

It’s hard imagine the span of a lifetime
As ­­­riddled with peril or moulded by change
Yet he would recall in fondest reflection
The youthful adventures of his former days

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.

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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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