Lyr Req: Fire on the Water (Charlie Maguire)

Subject: Lyrics: Fire on the water...
From: GUEST,HOMESgirl
Date: 01 May 03 - 10:49 PM

It's me again, this time looking for the lyrics/title/artist for a song that includes: "You've heard it said in song and rhyme, not the water but the fire next time/Off Superior's coastline they got both without delay..."
I remember this song and some others from a tape a boyfriend made for me from the radio. Wish I'd thought to get this info from him before we went our separate ways! :)

Subject: RE: Lyrics: Fire on the water...
From: nutty
Date: 02 May 03 - 03:35 AM

Haven't been able to find the lyrics but have found out that Lee Murdock recorded the song on Freshwater Highway ...© 1995, CD and cassette ......

Fire On The Water (Charlie Maguire) Accident aboard the freighter Cartiercliffe Hall (June 1989)

Hopefully someone will come up with the words.

Subject: ADD: Fire on the Water...
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 May 03 - 04:26 AM

FIRE ON THE WATER
(Charlie Maguire, 1979)

Fire on the water nearly got them all
The crew of the Cartiercliffe Hall
Bound from Duluth to Montreal
One June, on the fifth day.

Fire! Fire! the watch he cried, and then she blew and six men died
And the rest that could went overside in the icy waterway.

Fire on the water nearly got them all
The crew of the Cartiercliffe Hall
Bound from Duluth to Montreal
One June, on the fifth day.

Off Copper Harbor on the Keewenaw, ship's master Raymond Boudreault
And four other so badly burned all we could do was pray

Fire on the water nearly got them all
The crew of the Cartiercliffe Hall
Bound from Duluth to Montreal
One June, on the fifth day.

The Griffen took her under tow and set a course for Ontario
And she did burn as they did go all the way to Thunder Bay

Fire on the water nearly got them all
The crew of the Cartiercliffe Hall
Bound from Duluth to Montreal
One June, on the fifth day.

You've heard it said in song and rhyme not the water but the fire next time
But off Superior's coastline they got both and without delay

Fire on the water nearly got them all
The crew of the Cartiercliffe Hall
Bound from Duluth to Montreal
One June, on the fifth day.


From the Lee Murdock CD, Freshwater Highway

Notes:
In the nineteenth century, almost as many ships and lives were lost on the lakes because of fire as any other reason Whether it was due to negligence, poor engineering, or just bad luck, flames that engulfed a ship provided an awesome background for heroic deeds as well as tragic loss. After refitting in Duluth, the Cartiercliffe Hall was downbound for Montreal with a load of corn on June 5, 1979, when on explosion tore throuqh the aft section causing a fire. Due to the combustible nature of her toad, this Canadian vessel was towed, with all speed and caution to Thunder Bay, Ontario by the Canadian Coast Guard Cutter, Grilles. Even though nineteen af the crew survived, it still provides a grisly reminder of how uncontrollable fire can be, even when surrounded by water.

Subject: Charlie Maguire songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 May 03 - 04:36 AM

You'll find lyrics to other Charlie Maguire songs scattered around Mudcat, and at http://www.charliemaguire.com. You can get more information about Lee Murdock and his Great Lakes recordings at http://www.leemurdock.com/.
-Joe Offer-

---

Charlie Maguire songs:

• Fall Is Here
• The Hinkley Fire
• I'm from Minnesota
• Talking Home Improvement
• Oh, Cold and Misery
• Gettin in the Cows
• Fire on the Water

Subject: RE: Lyrics: Fire on the water...
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 02 May 03 - 05:46 AM

There is a romantic song by Chris de Burgh, called "Fire on the Water." There is another one, WW2 song, lurking in my memory, but I can't bring it up.
Nothing to do with the song here, but same titles.

Subject: RE: Lyrics: Fire on the water...
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 May 03 - 10:35 AM

Note that while Charlie Maguire is a fine song-songwriter and performer, he is adamant about maintaining control of his copyrighted songs. I am sure that he would object to the lyrics being posted on Mudcat.

Joe, I strongly suggest you try to contact Charlie in Minnesota for permission for posting or delete his songs from the forum.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyrics: Fire on the water...
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 May 03 - 12:24 PM

I dunno, Charley - he didn't object last year. As long as I post songwriter names and links, it's pretty good advertising for him.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyrics: Fire on the water...
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 May 03 - 12:35 PM

Joe-

Good! Maybe Charlie has mellowed in the years. He used to require explicit authorization.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyrics: Fire on the water...
From: GUEST,HOMESgirl
Date: 02 May 03 - 02:04 PM

Hey, everybody
Thanks for the replies! I love the Great Lakes--not like, LOVE--and want to learn more of their history, especially their history in music. I'm requesting Freshwater Highway for Mothers' Day. :)

Subject: Lyr Add: FIRE ON THE WATER (Charlie Maguire)
From: raredance
Date: 02 May 03 - 11:39 PM

The lyric sheet from Charlie Maguire's "Harbor Lights" album (CD available at Joe's link above)has some differences from the lyrics tha Joe got from Lee Murdock's rendition. For the record, here are the words Charlie sang.

FIRE ON THE WATER (Charlie Maguire)

Fire on the water nearly got them all
The men on the Cartiercliff Hall
Bound from Dulth, to Montreal
On June fifth of that day.

"Fire, fire," the watch he cried
And then she blew, and six men died
The rest that could went over the side
In the icy waterway

Off Copper Harbor on the Keweenaw
Ship's master, Raymond Boudreault
And four others so badly burned
All we can do is pray

The Griffin took her under tow
And set course for Ontario
And she did burn as they did go
All the way to Thunder Bay

You've heard it said, in song and rhyme
Not the water, but the fire next time
But off Superior's coast line
They got both, without delay

In the notes Charlie says that he played a folk festival in thunder Bay a few days after the event. The ship caught fire on June 5; he had the song done by June 10. "Harbor Lights" is my favorite Maguire album. It's got a couple "cold" songs, 3 ship/water songs, 4 train songs, 2 fire songs (1 about a ship, 1 about a train) and some more.

Related trivia. A posting of ships in the Great Lakes for 2001 shows a "laker" called Algonorth registered in Canada to Algoma Central Corporation (founded as Algoma Central Railroad in 1899, it is Canada's largest inland shipping company) that says it was formerly named Cartiercliff Hall built in 1971. The suggests the fire damage was repaired.

rich r

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fire on the Water (Charlie Maguire)
From: GUEST,Scott Blair
Date: 01 Aug 06 - 01:48 AM

I was on the Cartiercliff hall June 5th 1979 not 1989.Two other died in hospital later and one comit suicide a year later. Shes here in Port Colborne right now being turned into a barge. I think of the lifes lost all the time, the subsequent inquiries have lead to much safer vessels for all now! There was no explosion to start the fire only gas cylynders after it was engulfed.Just commenting on some of what I have read here since I was there I thought I would comment.
s blair

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fire on the Water (Charlie Maguire)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Aug 06 - 03:32 PM

Scott-

Thanks for posting your note. It's good to remind ourselves that some of these songs are about real events and real people.

Best to you!

Charley Noble