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.
The Flowers of Bermuda
Stan Rogers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Twenty-one days from Clyde in coal
He could smell the flowers of Bermuda in the gale
When he died on the North Rock Shore
Just five short hours from Bermuda, in a fine October gale
There came a cry "Oh, there be breakers ahead!"
From the collier Nightingale
Hard on her beam ends, groaning, went the Nightingale
And over side her mainmast goes
"Oh, Captain, are we all for drowning?"came the cry from all the crew
"The boats be smashed! How then are we all to be saved?
They are stove in through and through!"
"Oh, are ye brave and hardy collier-men or are ye blind and cannot see?
The Captain's gig still lies before ye whole and sound,
It shall carry all o' we."
But when the crew was all assembled and the gig prepared for sea,
Twas seen there were but eighteen places to be manned
Nineteen mortal souls were we.
But cries the Captain "Now do not delay, nor do ye spare a thought for me.
My duty is to save ye all now, if I can.
See ye return as quick as can be."
Oh, there be flowers in Bermuda. Beauty lies on every and,
And there be laughter, ease and drink for every man,
But there is no joy for me;
For when we reached the wretched Nightingale what an awful sight was plain
The Captain, drowned, was tangled in the mizzen-chains
Smiling bravely beneath the sea.
The Flowers of Bermuda is a poignant ballad that narrates the story of a captain who perishes tragically while attempting to save the lives of his crew members. The song is set in the North Atlantic Ocean and describes a collier ship called Nightingale, captained by the singer, that is caught in a storm near Bermuda. The lyrics state that the captain could smell the flowers of Bermuda in the gale, which hints at the optimistic and hopeful nature of the character, even in the face of adversity. The ship runs aground, and the crew fears for their lives as the boats are destroyed. But the captain steps in and suggests that all of them can fit into the gig, a small open boat. He sacrifices his own chance to survive and instead drowns while ensuring that all the crew members are saved. The final stanza of the song sorrowfully talks about his demise and how he now rests smiling beneath the sea, still fulfilling his duty.
Overall, The Flowers of Bermuda is a touching and emotional piece about the selflessness and bravery of the captain, who valiantly gives up his life to save his crew members. The song highlights the beauty and freedom associated with Bermuda but juxtaposes it with the tragedy of the captain's death. It is a catchy tune that evokes a range of emotions from the listener, from appreciation for the captain's heroism to mourning for his tragic end.
Line by Line Meaning
He was Captain of the Nightingale
The man in question was the Captain of the ship named Nightingale.
Twenty-one days from Clyde in coal
The Nightingale had travelled for 21 days from Clyde carrying coal.
He could smell the flowers of Bermuda in the gale
The captain could smell the beautiful fragrance of flowers from Bermuda while the ship sailed in a strong wind.
When he died on the North Rock Shore
The Captain died in the sea near the North Rock Shore.
Just five short hours from Bermuda, in a fine October gale
The tragedy happened only five hours away from Bermuda, on a beautiful October day with strong winds.
There came a cry "Oh, there be breakers ahead!"
Someone shouted that they could see rock formations ahead, indicating an impending danger.
From the collier Nightingale
The Nightingale was a coal-carrying ship.
No sooner had the Captain brought her round, came a rending crash below
The Captain had barely maneuvered the ship when a loud noise of breaking came from below.
Hard on her beam ends, groaning, went the Nightingale
The ship tilted on its side and produced a sad sound.
And over side her mainmast goes
The ship's mainmast fell over the side of the ship.
"Oh, Captain, are we all for drowning?"came the cry from all the crew
The crew was under the impression that they would all perish in the accident.
"The boats be smashed! How then are we all to be saved?
They are stove in through and through!"
The lifeboats had been severely damaged making it impossible to save the crew.
"Oh, are ye brave and hardy collier-men or are ye blind and cannot see?
The Captain's gig still lies before ye whole and sound,
It shall carry all o' we."
The Captain asked the crew if they were brave enough to face the situation and ordered them to take the small boat that was still intact to save themselves.
But when the crew was all assembled and the gig prepared for sea,
Twas seen there were but eighteen places to be manned
Nineteen mortal souls were we.
All surviving crew were gathered to take the small boat, but they realized that there were only 18 spaces while there were nineteen passengers.
But cries the Captain "Now do not delay, nor do ye spare a thought for me.
My duty is to save ye all now, if I can.
See ye return as quick as can be."
The Captain suggested that one person should stay behind and let others leave to be rescued first, thus showing selflessness and putting his crew's life before his own.
Oh, there be flowers in Bermuda. Beauty lies on every land,
And there be laughter, ease and drink for every man,
But there is no joy for me;
Bermuda was a beautiful place with thriving flora and fauna, but the Captain couldn't find joy in it after the tragedy.
For when we reached the wretched Nightingale what an awful sight was plain
The Captain, drowned, was tangled in the mizzen-chains
Smiling bravely beneath the sea.
The crew finally reached the Nightingale and found the Captain's lifeless body caught up in chains, but his final expression was a brave smile as he died saving his crew.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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