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American Ballads and Folk Songs
Some of the shanty-boys were willing, while others they hung back, For to work on Sunday, they thought it was not right-But six American shanty-boys did volunteer to go To break the jam on Gerry's rock with their foreman, young Monroe.
They had not rolled off many logs before the boss to them did say, "I would you all to be on your guard, for the jam will soon give way." He had no more than spoke those words before the jam did break
and go, And carried away those six brave youths with their foreman, young
Monroe.
As soon as the news got into camp and attorneys came to hear, In search of their mangled bodies the river we did steer, And one of their dead bodies found, to our great grief and woe, All bruised and mangled on the beach lay the corpse of young Monroe.
We took him from the water, smoothed back his raven-black hair, There was one fair form amongst them whose cries did rend the air, There was one fair form amongst them, a girl from Saginaw town, Whose mournful cries did rend the skies for her lover that was drowned.
We buried him quite decently. 'Twas on the twelfth of May, Come all you jolly shanty-boys, and for your comrade pray. We engraved upon a hemlock tree that near his grave did grow— The name, the age, the drownding date of the foreman, young Monroe.
His mother was a widow living down by the river side*
Miss Clark she was a noble girl, this young man's promised bride.
The wages of true love the firm to her did pay,
And liberal subscription she received from the shanty-boys that day.
She received their presents kindly and thanked them every one, Though she did not survive him long, as you shall understand j
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