Misc Traditional – The Cremation Of Sam Mcgee (Guitar)
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The cremation of Sam McGee is something of a beloved traditional ballad in my family
and is recited by various family members at get-togethers. I struggled remembering
such a long ballad and wished it was set to music, which I find easier to put to memory.
Recently I stumbled across a You-Tube video (sorry, lost the source!)
of someone singing it to the tune of the "County Down." I was absolutely tickled
about it and figured I'd better share. Rhythm-wise I use a more up-beat count
but don't usually go quite so fast as the Irish Rovers in their County down.
By Robert William Service (with slight adjustments for flow)
Em G D There are strange things done in the midnight sun Em C D By the men who moil for gold; Em G D The Arctic trails have their secret tales Em D Em That would make your blood run cold; G D The Northern Lights have seen queer sights, Em C D But the queerest they ever did see Em G D Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge Em D Em I cremated Sam McGee. Em G D Now Sam McGee was from Tennessee, Em C D where the cotton blooms and blows. Em G D Why he left his home in the South to roam Em D Em 'round the Pole, God only knows. G D He was always cold, but the land of gold Em C D seemed to hold him like a spell; Em G D Though he'd often say in his homely way Em D Em that he'd "sooner live in hell". Em G D On a Christmas Day we were mushing our way Em C D over the Dawson trail. Em G D Talk of your cold! through the parka's fold Em D Em it stabbed like a driven nail. G D If our eyes we'd close, then the lashes froze Em C D till sometimes we couldn't see; Em G D It wasn't much fun, but the only one Em D Em to whimper was Sam McGee. Em G D And that very night, as we lay packed tight Em C D in our robes beneath the snow, Em G D And the dogs were fed, and the stars over head Em D Em were dancing heel and toe, G D He turned to me, and "Cap," says he, Em C D "I'll cash in this trip, I guess; Em G D And if I do, I'm asking that you Em D Em won't refuse my last request." Em G D Well, he seemed so low that I couldn't say no; Em C D then he says with a sort of moan: Em G D "It's the cursed cold, and it's got right hold Em D Em till I'm chilled clean through to the bone. G D Yet 'tain't being dead -- it's my awful dread Em C D of the icy grave that pains; Em G D So I want you to swear that, foul or fair, Em D Em you'll cremate my last remains." Em G D A pal's last need is a thing to heed, Em C D so I swore I would not fail; Em G D And we started on at the streak of dawn; Em D Em but God! he looked ghastly pale. G D He crouched on the sleigh, and he raved all day Em C D of his home in Tennessee; Em G D And before nightfall a corpse was all Em D Em that was left of Sam McGee. Em G D There wasn't a breath in that land of death, Em C D and I hurried, horror-driven, Em G D With a corpse half hid that I couldn't get rid, Em D Em because of a promise given; G D It was lashed to the sleigh, and it seemed to say: Em C D "You may tax your brawn and brains, Em G D But you promised true, and it's up to you Em D Em to cremate those last remains." Em G D Now a promise made is a debt unpaid, Em C D and the trail has its own stern code. Em G D In the days to come, though my lips were dumb, Em D Em in my heart how I cursed that load. G D In the long, long night, by the lone firelight, Em C D while the huskies, round in a ring, Em G D Howled out their woes to the homeless snows Em D Em -- O God! how I loathed the thing. Em G D And every day that quiet clay Em C D seemed to heavy and heavier grow; Em G D And on I went, though the dogs were spent Em D Em and the grub was getting low; G D The trail was bad, and I felt half mad, Em C D but I swore I would not give in; Em G D And I'd often sing to the hateful thing, Em D Em and it hearkened with a grin. Em G D Till I came to the marge of Lake Lebarge, Em C D and a derelict there lay; Em G D It was jammed in the ice, but I saw in a trice Em D Em it was called the "Alice May". G D And I looked at it, and I thought a bit, Em C D and I looked at my frozen chum; Em G D Then "Here," said I, with a sudden cry, Em D Em "is my cre-ma-tor-eum." Em G Em Some planks I tore from the cabin floor, Em C D and I lit the boiler fire; Em G D Some coal I found that was lying around, Em D Em and I heaped the fuel higher; G D The flames just soared, and the furnace roared Em C D -- such a blaze you seldom see; Em G D And I burrowed a hole in the glowing coal, Em D Em and I stuffed in Sam McGee. Em G D Then I made a hike, for I didn't like Em C D to hear him sizzle so; Em G D And the heavens scowled, and the huskies howled, Em D Em and the wind began to blow. G D It was icy cold, but the hot sweat rolled Em C Em down my cheeks, and I don't know why; Em G D And the greasy smoke in an inky cloak Em D Em went streaking down the sky. Em G D I do not know how long in the snow Em C D I wrestled with grisly fear; Em G D But the stars came out and they danced about Em D Em ere again I ventured near; G D I was sick with dread, but I bravely said: Em C D "I'll just take a peep inside. Em G D I guess he's cooked, and it's time I looked"; . . . Em D Em then the door I opened wide. Em G D And there sat Sam, looking cool and calm, Em C D in the heart of the furnace roar; Em G D And he wore a smile you could see a mile, Em D Em and he said: "Please close that door. G D It's fine in here, but I greatly fear Em D Em you'll let in the cold and storm -- Em G D Since I left Plumtree, down in Tennessee, Em D Em it's the first time I've been warm." Em G D There are strange things done in the midnight sun Em C D By the men who moil for gold; Em G D The Arctic trails have their secret tales Em D Em That would make your blood run cold; G D The Northern Lights have seen queer sights, Em C D But the queerest they ever did see Em G D Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge Em D Em I cremated Sam McGee.