Rogers was noted for his rich, baritone voice and his traditional-sounding songs which were frequently inspired by Canadian history and the daily lives of working people, especially those from the fishing villages of the Maritime provinces and, later, the farms of the Canadian prairies and Great Lakes. Rogers died in a fire aboard Air Canada Flight 797 on the ground at the Greater Cincinnati Airport at the age of 33.
Rogers was born in Hamilton, Ontario, the eldest son of Nathan Allison Rogers and Valerie (née Bushell) Rogers, two Maritimers who had relocated to Ontario in search of work shortly after their marriage in July 1948. Although Rogers was raised in Binbrook, Ontario, he often spent summers visiting family in Guysborough County, Nova Scotia.
It was there that he became familiar with the way of life in the Maritimes, an influence which was to have a profound impact on his subsequent musical development. He was interested in music from an early age, reportedly beginning to sing shortly after learning to speak. He received his first guitar, a miniature hand-built by his uncle Lee Bushell, when he was five years of age. He was exposed to a variety of music influences, but among the most lasting were the country and western tunes his uncles would sing during family get-togethers. Throughout his childhood, he would practice his singing and playing along with his brother Garnet, six years his junior.
While Rogers was attending Saltfleet High School, Stoney Creek, Ontario, he started to meet other young people interested in folk music, although at this time he was dabbling in rock and roll, singing and playing bass guitar in garage bands such as "Stanley and the Living Stones" and "The Hobbits". After high school, Rogers briefly attended both McMaster University and Trent University, where he performed in small venues with other student musicians, including Ian Tamblyn, Chris Ward and fellow Hobbit Nigel Russell. Russell wrote the song "White Collar Holler", which Rogers sang frequently on stage.
Rogers signed with RCA Records in 1970 and recorded two singles: "Here's to You Santa Claus" in 1970, and "The Fat Girl Rag" in 1971. In 1973, Rogers recorded three singles for Polygram: "Three Pennies", "Guysborough Train", and "Past Fifty."
In 1976, Rogers recorded his debut album, Fogarty's Cove, released in 1977 on Barnswallow Records. The album's subject matter dealt almost entirely with life in maritime Canada, and was an immediate success. Rogers then formed Fogarty's Cove Music, and bought Barnswallow during the production of Turnaround, allowing him to release his own albums. Posthumously, additional albums were released.[citation needed]
Rogers' songs often had a Celtic feel which was due, in part, to his frequent use of DADGAD guitar tuning. He regularly used his William 'Grit' Laskin built 12-string guitar in his performances. His best-known pieces include "Northwest Passage", "Barrett's Privateers", "The Mary Ellen Carter", "Make and Break Harbour", "The Idiot", "Fogarty's Cove", and "White Squall".
Rogers died alongside 22 other passengers most likely of smoke inhalation on June 2, 1983, while traveling on Air Canada Flight 797 (a McDonnell Douglas DC-9) after performing at the Kerrville Folk Festival. The airliner was flying from Dallas, Texas, to Toronto and Montreal when a fire of unknown ignition source within the vanity or toilet shroud of the aft washroom forced it to make an emergency landing at the Greater Cincinnati Airport in northern Kentucky.
There were initially no visible flames, and after attempts to extinguish the fire were unsuccessful, smoke filled the cabin. Upon landing, the plane's doors were opened, allowing the five crew and 18 of the passengers to escape, but approximately 60 to 90 seconds into the evacuation the oxygen rushing in from outside caused a flash fire. Rogers had initially been one of the passengers to escape, but he at some point re-entered the plane to assist in the effort to help others escape.
Rogers' legacy includes his recordings, songbook, and plays for which he was commissioned to write music. His songs are still frequently covered by other musicians, and are perennial favourites at Canadian campfires and song circles. Members of Rogers' band, including his brother Garnet Rogers, continue to be active performers and form a significant part of the fabric of contemporary Canadian folk music. Following his death, he was nominated for the 1984 Juno Awards in the category for Best Male Vocalist. That same year, he was posthumously awarded the Diplôme d’Honneur of the Canadian Conference of the Arts. In 1994, his posthumous live album Home in Halifax was likewise nominated for Best Roots and Traditional Album.
Stan's son, Nathan Rogers, is also an established Canadian folk artist with a voice and lyrical acumen similar to his father's. He has released two critically acclaimed solo discs and tours internationally as a solo act and in the trio Dry Bones.
Take it from Day to Day
Stan Rogers Lyrics
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And it's not the work that I mind so much,
Or the long cold miles from my lover's touch,
'Though for sure she's far away.
No stranger, I, to the touch of steel,
Or the honest fear any man can feel,
But I long for dust under my heels
And a pocket full of pay.
The pack-ice 'round us cracks and groans;
The old St. Roch, she creaks and moans.
The icy fog is in my bones,
And the ache won't go away.
Outside I bet it's warm and fair.
I could have her fingers in my hair,
But it's long, cold miles to her out there
So I guess I'll have to stay
And just take it from day to day!
We're as far North as I want to come,
But Larsen's got us under his thumb,
And I signed up for the whole damned run,
I can't get off half way.
But when I get back onto the shore,
I'm going South where it stays warm,
And there'll be someone on my arm
To help me spend my pay,
So I'll take it from day to day.
No stranger, I, to the touch of steel
And the honest fear any man can feel,
But I long for dust under my heels
And a pocket full of pay,
So I'll take it from day to day.
The lyrics to Stan Rogers's song Take it from Day to Day convey a sailor's struggle with being far away from his lover and enduring the harsh conditions of being on a ship in the north. The sailor mentions that he is used to being away from home, but longs for the freedom of being on land again, with dust under his heels and a pocket full of pay. He acknowledges the realities of his situation, that he cannot leave the ship halfway through the journey and must continue working under the captain's orders. However, he remains hopeful for his return to shore, where someone will be waiting for him to help him spend his earnings.
The themes of longing, hardship, and perseverance are present throughout the song. The sailor is aware of the physical and emotional hardships of his job, but chooses to take it one day at a time, hoping for the eventual reward of being reunited with his loved one and having the ability to spend his money as he pleases. The repeated line "I'll take it from day to day" reinforces this idea of focus on the present moment and the ability to endure challenges with a hopeful outlook.
Overall, the lyrics of Take it from Day to Day capture the bittersweet realities of the sailor's life, while also highlighting the importance of perseverance and hope in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, it's not the hours of watch-on-watch,
The long hours of work aren't the only thing that bothers me.
And it's not the work that I mind so much,
I don't mind working hard.
Or the long cold miles from my lover's touch,
The only thing that troubles me is being away from my lover.
'Though for sure she's far away.
Even though I know she's far from here.
No stranger, I, to the touch of steel,
I'm no stranger to danger and fear.
Or the honest fear any man can feel,
I understand the fear that anyone has in dangerous situations.
But I long for dust under my heels
I crave adventure and movement.
And a pocket full of pay.
And the money that comes with it.
So I'll take it from day to day.
So I'll live in the moment, taking things as they come.
The pack-ice 'round us cracks and groans;
The ice around us is constantly shifting and breaking.
The old St. Roch, she creaks and moans.
The ship we're on is making noises that add to my discomfort.
The icy fog is in my bones,
The cold fog seems to penetrate deep within me, making me shiver.
And the ache won't go away.
The pain and discomfort I feel is persistent and unrelenting.
Outside I bet it's warm and fair.
I imagine that the weather outside is much more pleasant.
I could have her fingers in my hair,
I could be with my lover, enjoying her touch.
But it's long, cold miles to her out there
Unfortunately, she's far away and hard to reach.
So I guess I'll have to stay
So I accept that I must remain where I am.
And just take it from day to day!
And focus on living one day at a time.
We're as far North as I want to come,
I've reached the limit of how far north I ever want to go.
But Larsen's got us under his thumb,
Our boss Larsen has complete control over us.
And I signed up for the whole damned run,
I committed to this job for the long haul.
I can't get off half way.
I can't quit this job partway through.
But when I get back onto the shore,
When I eventually return to land,
I'm going South where it stays warm,
I'm headed to the warmer, more comfortable southern regions.
And there'll be someone on my arm
I'll have a companion by my side.
To help me spend my pay,
And we'll use the money I earned to enjoy our time together.
So I'll take it from day to day.
So I'll continue living one day at a time until then.
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