Song: "The Sheepscot Narrow Gauge"

[John Kokas]

Try lyrics to the tune of Wabash Cannonball.

[Pete Stevens]

So Mr. Naray was born in September 1855 and was a Civil War soldier?? He was 9 at the war?s end.
In any case, you guys are amazing! I think Wabash Cannonball works pretty well.

[Ed Lecuyer]

So Mr. Naray was born in September 1855 and was a Civil War soldier?? He was 9 at the war's end.

Yeah, something doesn't add up in that timeline.

The tidbit that "Fred Arlington Naray was a Civil War soldier from Whitefield." was taken from the history of the Arlington Grange published here: https://whitefieldlibrary.org/history/
and here:
https://bangordailynews.com/2019/03/30/news/a-small-maine-library-has-5-months-to-seal-its-deal-to-save-an-old-grange-building/


However, the 1906 census, which lists him as a Farmer and Poet in Whitefield does NOT indicate that he was a Civil War veteran:
https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1037&context=mainehistory

I got the dates of birth and death from Ancestry:
https://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/fred-arlington-naray-24-8tlp5s

I'm guessing that the newspaper article on the sale of the Grange building got it wrong (or was fed misinformation) and that has carried through to the library's web site.

[Graham Buxton]

So Mr. Naray was born in September 1855 and was a Civil War soldier?? He was 9 at the war?s end.

Nine years old may seem crazy in 'modern' times, but there were significant numbers of children involved on both sides.  See:
https://www.essentialcivilwarcurriculum.com/boys-of-the-civil-war.html

Here is one passage I  found with a quick read:

Nine-year-old Johnny Clem ran away from home and was able to join up by starting out as a camp helper until he was older and mustered in as a drummer.

[Jeff Schumaker]

I had heard the Battle Hymn of the Republic was the tune used for the song.

Jeff S.

[Ed Lecuyer]

I had heard the Battle Hymn of the Republic was the tune used for the song.

I don't think so. In my opinion, the melody of BATTLE HYMN does not fit the text particularly well.

[Ed Lecuyer]

the Hurrah Hurrah made me think of the "Bonnie Blue Flag"]the Hurrah Hurrah made me think of the "Bonnie Blue Flag"

I looked up the Irish Jaunting Car/Bonnie Blue Flag tune:
https://www.bethsnotesplus.com/2013/07/bonnie-blue-flag.html
And it doesn't quite fit well either. (It is a closer match than BATTLE HYMN, however.)  It could be made to work, but it's not a slam dunk.

[Benjamin Richards]

I'm guessing that the newspaper article on the sale of the Grange building got it wrong (or was fed misinformation) and that has carried through to the library's web site.

Citogenesis strikes again!

[Carl G. Soderstrom]

Ed - like I said I can't carry a tune in a Boom Box.

You have to agree it is catchy.  Even if it does not fit

[John Kokas]

Maybe a local folk group or band can come up with a new melody and adapt the lyrics for the WW&F, specifically.

Here's an example of what the folks at Blue Mountain & Reading (Reading & Northern) did some years ago.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lypdjXZT4t4&t=40s

[Jeff Schumaker]

I recall seeing a video of someone playing the Battle Hymn and singing the lyrics to Sheepscot Narrow Gauge. Could it have been on the forum?

Jeff S.

[Ed Lecuyer]

Maybe a local folk group or band can come up with a new melody and adapt the lyrics for the WW&F

There are enough musicians in our ranks (myself included) who could make this happen.

[Pete Stevens]

I?m already working on a demo myself! I?m going with Wabash Cannonball. Works nicely. The second verse is a little sexist for modern listeners, so I?m leaving at least part of that out. Folk music is flexible!

[Ed Lecuyer]

Verse 2:

There's Libby, Fogg, and Crosby,
Those men have got the sand.
I wish the Lord would scatter more
Such fellows through the land.
For we stockholders love then
As we do the  "gentle sex"
For they are going to build a railroad
From Wiscasset to Quebec

It's a forced rhyme at best, anyway. As a historic lyric, it is certainly in line with the time it was written.

However, the verse itself is kind of important. Not only does it name the financiers, it captures the whole optimism that the stockholders felt about bringing the Narrow Gauge through the Sheepscot valley. And, today, we know that these dreams were never realized and W&Q stock was ultimately worthless.

I wonder if there is a way to keep the author's intent, without resorting to a phrase that some today would find disparaging.

[Pete Stevens]

Let?s see what we can come up with.