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Twenty​-​three Camels

from A Ripple in Time by Tiller's Folly

/

lyrics

23 CAMELS

Well it came about on a month of May
That 23 Camels sailed away
23 Camels for Douglas sailed
And the road to the Cariboo

Where the Camels came from, no one knew
In the Cariboo in the days of old
From the U.S. Army or old Manchu?
In the Cariboo in the days of gold
From Arizona on a railway crew
In the Cariboo in the days of old
All the way to the Cariboo

But 23 Camels that's a twist, Oh you've never seen such a sight as this
Run like a devil when the camels hiss
On the Road to the Cariboo

"Ships of the Desert" was the camel's fame
In the Cariboo in the days of old
They could carry a half-of-a-ton was claimed
In the Cariboo in the days of gold
Till their feet went tender and they all took lame
In the Cariboo in the days of old
They were auctioned off away

But 23 Camels, that's a sight, Where the donkey brays and the horse takes flight
It's a wonder everybody didn't die of fright
On the road to the Cariboo

They kicked and bit at everything that moved
In the Cariboo in the days of old
They smelled so bad that they scared the mules
In the Cariboo in the days of gold
Causin' so much trouble that the teamsters sued
In the Cariboo in the days of old
Their disruptions to curtail

But 23 Camels, that's a sight When the donkey brays and the horse takes flight
It's a wonder everybody didn't die of fright
On the Road to the Cariboo

But 23 Camels that's a twist, Oh you've never seen such a sight as this
Run like a devil when the camels spit
On the Road to the Cariboo

credits

from A Ripple in Time, released June 1, 2002
Bruce Coughlan – vocals, guitar, wood flute & whistles
Laurence Knight – bass, vocals
Nolan Murray – fiddle, mandolin, 5-string banjo
Michael Santshyn– fiddle, mandolin & vocals
Robbie Steininger – electric slide guitar, mandolin & dobro
Phil Robertson – drums
Ian Cameron – fiddle, mandolin & guitar
Chris Stevens – 5-string banjo
Gord Maxwell – vocals
Jack Duncan – percussion
John Ellis – shakers & guitar
All songs composed by Bruce Coughlan (SOCAN) except; Heel & Toe (trad arranged by Nolan Murray & Bruce Coughlan, Muddy Frogwater & An Dram Buidheach – by Nolan Murray (ASCAP)
Produced by Laurence Knight

Engineered by John Ellis & Eric Reed
Pre-production by Ian Cameron
Recorded at Magic Lab Recorders, Surrey, BC
The Factory, Vancouver, BC and Red Stripe Studios, Burnaby, BC
Tracked at NAL Studios, North Vancouver, BC
Mastered by Jamie Sitar at Suitesound, Vancouver, BC

Graphics by Bruce Coughlan

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Music Fund) and of Canada’s private radio broadcasters.

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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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