My last season fighting fire was the year of the South Canyon Fire. I spent forty two days in Idaho and Montana. What makes this version of the song so spooky for me is this: That Summer I was a Ranger at Shenandoah.
The first time I really listened to this song it made me cry with compassion. The Mclean's whole book in one song. I think Robert Sallee is still alive he would be 78....same age as my father would be..if he were still alive. This songs gives me the shivers and the book is better.
No smoke jumpers have died from fire related causes since this accident. Seems like the Forest Svc learned a lot. Not much fun being on the burning edge of new things....such as smoke jumping.
canadian?
heatheringermany 3 weeks ago
I was lucky enough to hear James Keelaghan perform this song at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago a few years ago. Fabulous.
Chicagoan444 3 weeks ago
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I had a similar experience to songsfromahat when learning this song...and again when I came back to it after not playing it for a couple years.
TEScharf 3 months ago
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TEScharf 3 months ago
Ryanshidak may not know that this is Keelaghan's song; he wrote it.
dhutton77 6 months ago
"Not better than the original, some words are off" LOLOLOL
This IS the original. James Keelaghan WROTE this song.
rcahoon100 7 months ago 3
I was lucky enough to see him once ...great show
mjuhanil 8 months ago
I was lucky enough to see him once ...great show
mjuhanil 8 months ago
sounds much better than his recorded version, this sounds more like Shindell's version
badyogi 8 months ago
My last season fighting fire was the year of the South Canyon Fire. I spent forty two days in Idaho and Montana. What makes this version of the song so spooky for me is this: That Summer I was a Ranger at Shenandoah.
SnowRanger20 9 months ago
The spirit of Stan Rogers lives on
teenonator 10 months ago 2
Great singing, not better than the original, some words are off. Nicely done. Obviously professional.
Ryanshidyak 10 months ago
amazing songwriter...beautiful resonant voice
gleecm 1 year ago
...but they cursed me instead. Ah, I understand.
geniegogo 1 year ago
attempting my own cover of this song, I couldn't get all the way through without crying. Such a powerful song.
songsfromahat 1 year ago 11
@songsfromahat It's awesome and I may like it better (sacrilege, I know).
spasticpanda 1 year ago
James Keelaghan is a treasure! Hundreds of years from now, people will sing this song, and weep.
RichardFeynmanRules 1 year ago
The first time I really listened to this song it made me cry with compassion. The Mclean's whole book in one song. I think Robert Sallee is still alive he would be 78....same age as my father would be..if he were still alive. This songs gives me the shivers and the book is better.
No smoke jumpers have died from fire related causes since this accident. Seems like the Forest Svc learned a lot. Not much fun being on the burning edge of new things....such as smoke jumping.
zulugreen 1 year ago
Just saw James in Sykeville Maryland and he's still got it after a lot of years and a lot less hair.
captainlaser 1 year ago
Oh he's so fine. I've loved this song for years.
Mortixia123 1 year ago
Hey, I finally get to hear how the man who wrote one of my favorite songs sings it! Thank you, fellow Pennell!
rransomp 1 year ago
@rransomp I agree! Wonderful. I have heard some good versions, but no one sings it like the writer himself!
lgcrooks 1 year ago
And he is Canadian.
lgcrooks 1 year ago 8
Amazing song! As a firefighter it definitely touches a cord.
1977jhall 1 year ago
Great song, and I love how he incorporated "Oh Shenendoah" at the end. Thanks for sharing!
ArtificialBanana 1 year ago