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This logging tragedy song is another tune that appears in many places with varying lyrics. The Ghosts of Johnson City have adapted the melody of this traditional song and modified some of the lyrics to fit time and place. In this song, the word ‘shanty’ (a term usually referring to the sea) in the lyric ‘shanty boy’, is also a term used to refer to lumbermen. This is a very well-known but rarely performed logging song that is believed to have originated in Northern New England (probably in Maine) though some sources say it's origin is Canadian. One of the most dangerous jobs for the shanty boys on a log drive was to break ‘jams’ in which thousands of logs would form a temporary dam in the river, costing the logging companies time and money by delaying or damaging their timber.
The logs would have been held in place by the explosive power of millions of gallons of water, and when the shanty boys removed (often unknowingly) the key logs causing the jam, the lumber and vast amounts of water would burst downstream, killing the workers clearing the jam instantly through blunt force trauma and drowning. ‘Young Monroe’ is the story of one such tragic incident, which many believe follows the details of an actual event.
lyrics
Come all you brave young shanty boys, and list while I relate
Concerning a young shanty boy and his untimely fate;
Concerning a young river man, so manly, true and brave;
'Twas on a jam at Gerry's Rock he met his watery grave;
'Twas on a Sunday morning as you will quickly hear,
Our logs were piled up mountain high, we could not keep them clear.
Our foreman said, "Come on, brave boys, with hearts devoid of fear,
We'll break the jam on Gerry's Rock and to Millinocket steer."
Now, some of them were willing, while others they were not,
All for to work on Sunday they did not think they ought;
But six of our brave shanty boys had volunteered to go
And break the jam on Gerry's Rock with their foreman, young Monroe.
They had not rolled off many logs 'till they heard his clear voice say,
"I'd have you boys be on your guard, for the jam willing soon give way."
These words he'd scarcely spoken when the jam did break and go,
Taking with it six brave boys and their foreman, young Monroe.
Now when those other shanty boys this sad news came to hear,
In search of their dead comrades to the river they did steer;
Six of their mangled bodies a-floating down did go,
While crushed and bleeding near the banks lay the foreman, young Monroe.
They took him from his watery grave, brushed back his raven hair;
There was a fair form among them whose cries did rend the air;
There was a fair form among them, a girl from back in town.
Whose cries rose to the skies for her lover who'd gone down.
Fair Clara was a noble girl, the river-man's true friend;
She and her widowed mother lived at the river's bend;
And the wages of her own true love the boss to her did pay,
But the shanty boys for her made up a generous sum next day.
They buried him quite decently; 'twas on the first of May;
Come all you brave young shanty boys and for your comrade pray.
Engraved upon the hemlock tree that by the grave does grow
Is the dying date and the sad fate of the foreman, young Monroe.
Fair Clara did not long survive, her heart broke down with grief;
And less than three months afterwards Death came to her relief;
And when the time had come and she was called to go,
Her last request was granted, to be laid by young Monroe.
Come all you brave young shanty boys, I'd have you call and see
Two green graves by the river side where grows a hemlock tree;
The shanty boys cut off the wood where lay those lovers low,--
'Tis the handsome Clara Vernon and her true love, Jack Monroe.
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