Marquette Bay
from Songs of the Lakes, Rivers, and Seas: Shanties, Forecastle Songs, and Other Maritime Ballads by Shantyland
-
Streaming + DownloadIncludes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.Purchasable with gift card
$1 USD or more
-
Buy the Full Digital Album
about
While touring through UP in 2018, I had a few days off in Marquette, and was utterly awestruck with the giant monolith that was the old ore dock in Marquette Bay. I did some research while I was there and found the history of the ore dock and Ripley Rock were wonderfully mystifying enough to that I wanted to put those tales into a song. The old ore dock has a way of transporting you back in time while in its presence. A towering physical artifact left behind by history for us to ponder about what life would have looked like during its use.
lyrics
Hey up and away
We’re leaving today from Marquette Bay
Throw the ore in the hull, by the sound of the gull, with a pain in my skull I will head right out into the lake
With a formal “standby!” from the L.S. & I
We said our goodbyes with the land growing small in our wake.
Hey up and away
We’re leaving today from Marquette bay
We all nearly died, out the storm we did ride, but our captain was tried and he knew deep inside what to do
No reaching the dock, the ship tied to a rock
for 3 nights were were stopped, but we lived to head off for the Soo.
Hey up and away
We’re leaving today from Marquette bay
The ore line was run in 1931, under Michigan Sun, we would work till the whistle would blow
We’d take on the town, paint it red, drink it down, then we’d stumble back round to our ship and we’d settle below.
We would sleep off the ale, rising early to sail far away from the rail, say goodbye to Marquette bay
We’re leaving today from Marquette Bay
Throw the ore in the hull, by the sound of the gull, with a pain in my skull I will head right out into the lake
With a formal “standby!” from the L.S. & I
We said our goodbyes with the land growing small in our wake.
Hey up and away
We’re leaving today from Marquette bay
We all nearly died, out the storm we did ride, but our captain was tried and he knew deep inside what to do
No reaching the dock, the ship tied to a rock
for 3 nights were were stopped, but we lived to head off for the Soo.
Hey up and away
We’re leaving today from Marquette bay
The ore line was run in 1931, under Michigan Sun, we would work till the whistle would blow
We’d take on the town, paint it red, drink it down, then we’d stumble back round to our ship and we’d settle below.
We would sleep off the ale, rising early to sail far away from the rail, say goodbye to Marquette bay
credits
from Songs of the Lakes, Rivers, and Seas: Shanties, Forecastle Songs, and Other Maritime Ballads,
released July 2, 2021
Words and music by Michael Dause
Words and music by Michael Dause
license
all rights reserved
tags
about
Ben Traverse Grand Rapids, Michigan
Michigander and Earthwork Music Collective member Ben Traverse is a young balladeer with a very wide hat who commands a wide array of instruments in their mission to bring the finest traditional folk music into the 21st century.
shows
-
May 1Ann Arbor, MI
-
May 2Flint, MI
-
May 3Three Oaks, MI
-
May 4Traverse City, MI
-
May 5Ludington, MI
-
May 8Ludington, MI
-
May 15Niles, MI
-
May 17Onekama, MI
-
May 24Traverse City, MI
-
May 31Rockford, MI
-
Jun 1Saugatuck, MI
-
Jun 8Mio, MI
-
Jun 14Traverse City, MI
-
Jun 18Escanaba, MI
discography
-
Nov 2023 -
Dec 2022 -
May 2022 -
Jul 2021
contact / help
Ben Traverse recommends:
-
Michael is one of my dearest friends and the other half of Shantyland. Go listen to his wonderful album. I also sang on the first track and helped with micing on another!
go to album
If you like Ben Traverse, you may also like:
-
From Cork, Ireland, Lewis Barfoot writes mystic, majestic songs derived from regional folk, with an ambient music aura.
go to album -
This album speaks to the continuum of African diasporic culture that is central to the vibrant canon of Americana folk music.
go to album -
Sweet Old Religion
by Pharis & Jason RomeroSweet harmonies & strummed melodies; the duo delve into decades-old folk, jazz, and country to find a timeless kind of love and connection.
go to album -
Wealth of Sorrow
by Cahalen MorrisonBright and skipping songs that foreground the sound of the banjo and fingerstyle guitar in music that feels timeless.
go to album -
House and Land
by House and LandHouse and Land offer a stirring take on classic Appalachian folk; this is delicate, heartfelt balladry.
go to album
