Anyone here into the late Stan Rogers? One of the finest writers and singers who ever picked up a guitar. I keep hoping Arlo will add Stan's "The Mary Ellen Carter" to his repertoire; he'd do it well.

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Stan Rogers' "The Mary Ellen Carter" is a magnificent song... Pete Seeger used to do a tremendous, rousing version of this song, banging out the chords on his 12-String guitar and singing full throttle. I recall that Pete played it at least once at one of his annual Carnegie Hall concerts back in the early 80s... I think it was the year that he shared the bill with Jane Sapp... Pete recorded the song as well on a benefit multi-artist 2 LP set titled "Swords Into Plowshares."

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"And you, to whom adversity has dealt the final blow
With smiling bastards lying to you everywhere you go
Turn to, and put out all your strength of arm and heart and brain
And like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again.

Rise again, rise again -
Though your heart it be broken and life about to end
No matter what you've lost, be it a home, a love, a friend.
Like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again."

Great song, and often used as an anthem to close folk festivals in Ontario. I'm a big fan of Stan Rogers. He was born just down the road in Hamilton, though most of his music is associated with the Maritimes. Brilliant singer/songwriter and just an all-round likeable guy. Gone far too soon. You can find his whole catalogue and some great background material and 'Stan' stories at the Official Stan Rogers home page:

http://stevebriggs.superb.net/stanrogers/

He did focus one album on local people and places around the Great Lakes, called "From Fresh Water." Includes some of my personal favourites just because they're about home, like "Lockkeeper" (I work at Lock 3 on the Welland Canal) and "MacDonnell on the Heights." The last lines of the final verse could have been written to describe Stan himself:

"You brought the field all standing with your courage and your luck
But unknown to most, you're lying there beside old General Brock.
So you know what it is to scale the Heights and fall just short of fame
And have not one in ten thousand know your name."

Which is a crying shame, in my opinion.
Bel in Niagara

That being the case, thanks for pointing this guy out to those of us (namely me) who have yet to make his musical aquaintance. It's always nice to have something to look forward to.

"On the 10th day of Christmas, Blunderland gave to me,
Ten more songs for singing..."

Nice. Very nice. <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>

Thanks to all who responded. Stan may be gone, but the legend lives on!

"I want to see your smiling face forty-five years from now."

i love stan rogers! he wrote some of the sweetest songs...and some of the saddest...and some of the most rousing....i always found Barrett's Privateers rather rousing myself....