Steamboatin' Jamiesons

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

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about

Steamboats were first introduced to our North West waters in the 1830s with the arrival of the Hudson's Bay Company's trading vessel “The SS Beaver". The Jamiesons were five brothers who came from Brodick, Scotland in the 1850's to pursue careers as steamboat pilots. Although a popular means of transport, steamboat travel was fraught with peril and within the span of seven years, each of the brothers had died in boiler explosions.

lyrics

STEAMBOATIN' JAMIESONS

There were five Brothers Jamiesons, the pride of the great Northwest
When it came to steamboat pilots, the Jamiesons were best
There's stories told of Captains bold who plied the Northwest chuck
The Steamboatin' Jamiesons had the hardest luck!

It's said the trouble all began in 1854
The first of the fated Jamiesons was standing on the wharf
Canemah town heard a frightening sound with a great horrific roar
The "Gazelle" was flung to "Kingdom Come" and that left only four

Four Steamboat Jamiesons, pride of the great Northwest
When it came to steamboat pilots, the Jamiesons were best!

‘Twas on the steamer "Portland", Willamette River run
That poor Mother Jamieson, she lost another son
The Portland stalls above the falls and amidst the ship's debris
Was the lifeless frame of Robert J. and now there's only three

Three Steamboat Jamiesons, pride of the great Northwest
When it came to steamboat piloting, the Jamiesons were best!

"The Best Swiftwater Pilot" Smith Jamieson was hailed
As he skippered on the Fraser, New Westminster up to Yale
He'd come as far as Union Bar when the boiler up and blew
There Smith, he met his maker, with Jamiesons at two

And then in 1861, late one August night
The folks around Victoria beheld a horrid sight
As the "Cariboo" was splintered through and scattered o'er the foam
The a mighty hand reached down to call the last two brothers home

The Steamboatin' Jamiesons, the pride of the great Northwest
When it came to steamboat pilots, the Jamiesons were best
There's stories told of Captains bold who plied the Northwest chuck
The Steamboatin' Jamiesons had the hardest luck!
Yes, the Steamboatin' Jamiesons had the hardest luck!

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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