“The Scow on the Cowden Shore”

Description

The singer (expressly identified as Larry Gorman) sings of "the scow on the Cowden shore." He describes the international crew of loggers, including several of the more peculiar characters, and speaks of the quest for liquor

Supplemental text

Scow on the Cowden Shore, The
  Partial text(s)

          *** A ***

From Louise Manny and James Reginald Wilson, Songs of Miramichi,
#42, pp. 172-174. From the singing of Fred McMahon, Chatham, 1948.

My name is Larry Gorman,
To all hands I mean no harrum,
You need not be alarumed,
  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.

(13 additional stanzas)

Notes

During log drives, the boss of the drive, the cook, and other non-participants would usually follow the logs in scows. Since the boat carried their provisions, the logdrivers were often highly alert to its progress. - RBW

"Cowden Shore was part of the Cowden farm, where Scottish immigrants of that name settled in the early nineteenth century.... Cowden Shore was conveniently near the Sou'West Boom, where the logs driven down the [Southwest Miramichi River] were stored, awaiting distribution to their owners." - BS

References

1. Doerflinger, pp. 234-236, "The Scow on the Cowden Shore" (3 texts, 2 tunes)
2. Manny/Wilson 42, "The Scow on Cowden Shore" (1 text, 1 tune)
3. Fowke/Mills/Blume, pp. 180-182, "The Scow on Cowden's Shore" (1 text, 1 tune)
4. ST Doe234 (Partial)
5. Roud #4529
6. BI, Doe234