White Squall by Stan Rogers

I know it's been a while. I've been meaning to record another song for some time now, and I had a few requests for this one. It's another ballad by Stan Rogers, and a sad one at that, but very pretty. I hope I did it justice.

Now it's just my luck to have the watch with nothing left to do
But watch the deadly waters glide as we roll North to the Sault,
And wonder when they'll turn again and pitch us to the rail
And whirl off one more youngster in the gale.

The kid was so damned eager - it was all so big and new.
You never had to tell him twice, or find him work to do.
And evenings on the mess deck, he was always first to sing
And show us pictures of the girl he'd wed in spring.

But I told that kid a hundred times don't take the lakes for granted.
They'll go from calm to a hundred knots so fast they seem enchanted.
But tonight, some red-eyed Wiarton girl lies staring at the wall
And her lover's gone into a White Squall.

Now it's a thing that we old timers know, in a sultry summer calm
There comes a blow from nowhere, and it goes off like a bomb.
A fifteen thousand tonner can be thrown upon her beam
While the gale takes all before it with a scream.

The kid was on the hatches, lying staring at the sky
And from where I stood, I swear I could see tears fall from his eye
So I hadn't the heart to tell him that he should be on a line
Even on a night so warm and fine.

When it struck, he sat up with a start, and I roared to him, "Get down!"
But for all that he could hear I might as well have not made a sound.
So I clung there to the stanchions and I felt my face grow pale
As he crawled hand over hand along the rail.

Now I could feel her keeling over with the fury of the blow
And I watched the rail go under then, so terrible and slow.
Then like some great dog, she shook herself and roared upright again
While overside, I heard him call my name.

So it's just my luck to have the watch with nothing left to do
But watch the deadly waters glide as we roll North to the Sault,
And wonder when they'll turn again, and pitch us to the rail
And whirl off one more youngster in the gale.

But I tell these kids a hundred times, don't take the lakes for granted.
They'll go from calm to a hundred knots so fast they seem enchanted.
But tonight, some red-eyed Wiarton girl lies staring at the wall
And her lover's gone into a White Squall.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Olivia
• Gale
• folkie
• guitar
• Stan
• Rogers
• White
• Squall

[glennlevinson]

Thank you for posting this.....Great Job....

[altdalt]

I love your voice and hope you continue to post new videos

[daophos]

I always thought Stan Roger's music was too masculine. I loved it that way. But after hearing your version, I stand corrected. You are awesome. Please do more of Roger's music.

[Teigokane]

Well done!

[Rikki0]

Olivia your voice is a joy to listen to, especially coming from such a pretty young lady. I would love to hear you do a version of Stan Rogers' " Take it From Day to Day ". It seems to be one of his lesser known songs but, in my never to be humble opinion, one of his best. Thank you for the music.

[bbv26026]

Very lovely, please post more of stan's music... Not sure if you take requests but Lock keeper, has always been a favorite of mine

[jessyjamesquivel]

thank you for sharing such a sweet voice of yours with us......next time would you allowed me to see your chords

[fetermcblues]

You have a wonderful voice and has a sweet passion not too many vocalist sing with anymore ...lovely song ... kudos !

[borstaff]

We had some days like that this year on the Big Lake (Superior) 17 to 25 foot waves - still some boats came across from Isle Royal and hours later, exhausted at marina in Copper Harbor. The lakes are no less deadly now than when Stan wrote this song. Good rendition.

[HansHecker]

She did it again and made me smile.. :-) thx.