Come all you bold sailors that follow the Lakes
On an iron ore vessel your living to make
I shipped in Chicago, bid adieu to the shore,
Bound away to Escanaba for red iron ore
Derry down, down, down derry down
In the month of September, the seventeenth day,
Two dollars and a quarter is all they would pay,
And on Monday morning the Bridgeport did take
The E C Roberts out in the Lake
Derry down, down, down derry down
The wind from the southard sprang up a fresh breeze,
And away through Lake Michigan the Roberts did sneeze
Down through Lake Michigan the Roberts did roar,
And on Friday morning we passed through death's door
Derry down, down, down derry down
This packet she showled across the mouth of Green Bay,
And before her cutwater she dashed the white spray,
We rounded the snad point, and anchor let go,
We furled in our canvas and the watch went below
Derry down, down, down derry down
Next morning we have alongside the Exile
And soon was made fast to an iron ore pile,
They lowered their chutes and like thunder did roar,
They spouted into us that red iron ore
Derry down, down, down derry down
Some sailors took shovels while others got spades,
And some took wheelbarrows, each man to his trade
We looked like red devils, our fingers got sore
We cursed Escanaba and that damned iron ore
Derry down, down, down derry down
The tug Escanaba she towed out the Minch
The Roberts she thought she had left in a pinch
And as she passed by us she bid us good-bye
Saying, "We'll meet you in Cleveland next Fourth of July"
Derry down, down, down derry down
Through Louse Island it blew a fresh breeze,
We made the Foxes, the Beavers, the Skillageles;
We flew by the Minch for to show her the way
And she ne'er hove in sight till we were off Thunder Bay
Derry down, down, down derry down
Across Saginaw Bay the Roberts did ride
With the dark and deep water rolling over her side
And now for Port Huron the Roberts must go,
Where the tug Kate Williams she took us in tow,
Derry down, down, down derry down
We went through North Passage---O Lord, how it blew!
And all 'round the Dummy a large fleet there came too
The night being dark, Old Nick it would scare
We hove up next morning and for Clevelend did steer
Derry down, down, down derry down
Now the Roberts is in Cleveland, made fast stem and stern
And over the bottle we'll spin a big yarn
But Captain Harvey Shannon had ought to stand treat
For getting into Cleveland ahead of the fleet
Derry down down, down derry down
Now my song it is ended, I hope you won't laugh
Our dunnage is packed and all hands are paid off
Here's a health to the Roberts, she's staunch, strong and true,
Nor forgotten the bold boys that comprise her crew
Derry down, down, down derry down
from Folk Songs Out of Wisconsin, Peters
@sailor @lake @work
filename[ REDIRON
playexe DERRYDWN
RG
Sung by M C Dean, Virginia , Minneso
used the same tune and refrain as is oft@
Bulls Death's Door is the treacherous @
of Door County and Washington Isl:
justifiably) feared by Great Lakes
nineteenth century
===DOCUMENT BOUNDARY