Fred McMahon - Scow on Cowden's Shore

In her book, Songs of Miramichi, Louise Manny notes that this song was written by Larry Gorman.

The first line of the song is "my name is Larry Gorman". The song mentions Fredericton, Bathurst, and other places and people in New Brunswick. The song is about various men who have worked on the scow on Cowden shore and their antics. The last words of the song "and jine (?) me humble ditty from the scow on cowden shore", are spoken, not sung.

This song appears elsewhere in the Manny collection: there is another version by Fred McMahon and (124-22)

## Sources

This song appears in Louise Manny and James Reginald Wilson eds. Songs of Miramichi, Brunswick Press Fredericton, N.B. pg. 171.

001-01

Recorded by Stan Cassidy - Phone 1528 - for Radio and Electrical Service - 415 King Street, Fredericton, N.B.

## Lyrics

My name is Larry Gorman,
To all hands I mean no harrum, (harm)
You need not be alarumed, (alarmed)
For you’ve heard of me before.
I can make a song and sing it,
I can fix it neat and bring it,
And the title that I’ll give it
Is the Scow on Cowden Shore.

I have got many’s the foe,
And the same I do know so
Amongst them all I go,
And it grieves their hearts full sore,
For I know that they could shoot me,
‘Crimanate or prosecute me
But they kindily salute me
Round the Scow on Cowden Shore.

There was men from many places (were)
Of many diffrunt races, (different)
With pale and swarthy faces,
I cannot name them o’er;
Island men and Rustigoushers,
There’s Nashwaakers and Pugmoushers,
All assembled here together
Round the Scow on Cowden Shore.

There was men from Arromocta, (were)
Some more from Roushebucta,
From Fredericton town and Bathurst
And MacDonald’s from Bras d’Or,
There’s night ramps and gallivanters,
There’s swift runners and raft canters,
All work for daily wages
Round the Scow on Cowden Shore.

There was the two young Joyces,
With their unhuman voices,
Kept makin’ peculiar noises
Till their throats got quite sore.
A wolf or Indian [fellow]
They would be far more civil
Than those uncultivated rubbage
Round the Scow on Cowden Shore.

There was the Widow Winnie,
She sold ale and cockaninny,
To get the poor fools’ pennies
She sold apples by the score.
She sold whiskey, gin and fly beer,
Somewhat porter, ale and cider,
Which made them whoop and stagger
Round the Scow on Cowden Shore.

Dan Brown and Bill Boggy
One night got very groggy,
The night being dark and foggy,
And we heard a tedious roar.
They were semi-intoxicated
And got somewhat agitated
All hands they did affrighted
Round the Scow on Cowden Shore.

Dan Brown when he begins
He’s a curious little man-o
He’ll study and he’ll plan
Till he gets to Edie’s door.
Oh, he’ll drink beer and whiskey
Until he gets pretty frisky,
And then he’ll turn quite saucy
To the Scow on Cowden Shore.

Dan Brown’s a splendid singer,
And in dances he will swing her,
He’ll bring to her good tidings
Of a new bank bill or more;
Oh, she’ll laugh and she’ll be funny
When she knows he’s got the money,
She’ll call him her darling honey,
From the Scow on Cowden Shore.

The True Lover’s Discussion
Is once more in fashion;
She’ll keep quietly hushing
While he sings it o’er and o’er.
For his voice is so melodious
That the ladies they’ll jine in chorus, (join)
And their echos all sing o’er us
Round the Scow on Cowden Shore.

Dan Brown and Johnny Layton
On the women they go a-waiting
They go out on the Sunday
With Miss Vickers and Kate Poor.
It’s all to gain insight
For all hands they mean to invite
You’re welcome to a clean bite
Round the Scow on Cowden Shore.

Some of the blokes spend good few dollars
In fine shirts and paper collars,
And in good whiskey wallers
Till they fight and get them tore.
Oh, they’ll fight and they will wrangle,
And each other they’ll badly mangle,
They’re called hard men to handle
From the Scow on Cowden Shore.

Oh, some they go a-courting,
While others they go a-sporting,
They go into a circus
To view scenes of days gone o’er.
In the like I take no pleasure,
So I sit down at my leisure,
And I daily take their measure
From the Scow on Cowden Shore.

So now my song is ended,
And I hope no one is offended,
The like I never intended,
And your pardon I’ll implore,
So you humble, mild and witty,
I pray on me take pity
And jine me humble ditty (join)
From the Scow on Cowden Shore.

(last two lines spoken)

Louise Manny, *Songs of Miramichi*, pp. 171 - 174
19th Century
New Brunswick, CANADA