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 Mary Ellen Carter
Stan Rogers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The skipper, he'd been drinking and the Mate, he felt no pain
Too close to Three Mile Rock, and she was dealt her mortal blow
And the Mary Ellen Carter settled low
There were five of us aboard her when she finally was awash
We'd worked like hell to save her, all heedless of the cost
And the groan she gave as she went down, it caused us to proclaim
That the Mary Ellen Carter would rise again
Well, the owners wrote her off; not a nickel would they spend
She gave twenty years of service, boys, then met her sorry end
But insurance paid the loss to them, they let her rest below
Then they laughed at us and said we had to go
But we talked of her all winter, some days around the clock
For she's worth a quarter million, afloat and at the dock
And with every jar that hit the bar, we swore we would remain
And make the Mary Ellen Carter rise again
[Chorus:]
Rise again, rise again, that her name not be lost
To the knowledge of men
Those who loved her best and were with her till the end
Will make the Mary Ellen Carter rise again
All spring, now, we've been with her on a barge lent by a friend
Three dives a day in hard hat suit and twice I've had the bends
Thank God it's only sixty feet and the currents here are slow
Or I'd never have the strength to go below
But we've patched her rents, stopped her vents, dogged hatch and porthole down
Put cables to her, 'fore and aft and birded her around
Tomorrow, noon, we hit the air and then take up the strain
And watch the Mary Ellen Carter Rise Again
[Chorus]
For we couldn't leave her there, you see, to crumble into scale
She'd saved our lives so many times, living through the gale
And the laughing, drunken rats who left her to a sorry grave
They won't be laughing in another day
And you, to whom adversity has dealt the final blow
With smiling bastards lying to you everywhere you go
Turn to, and put out all your strength of arm and heart and brain
And like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again
Rise again, rise again; though your heart it be broken
And life about to end
No matter what you've lost, be it a home, a love, a friend
Like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again
Rise again, rise again; though your heart it be broken
And life about to end
No matter what you've lost, be it a home, a love, a friend
Like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again
The song "The Mary Ellen Carter" by Stan Rogers tells the story of a ship by the same name that went down in rough weather due to the drunken skipper and a reckless mate who led her too close to Three Mile Rock. The ship sunk, but the five crew members did everything they could to save her. Despite their efforts, the Mary Ellen Carter eventually sank to the bottom of the ocean. The owners of the ship gave up on her, but the crew did not. They talked about the Mary Ellen Carter all winter, determined to rebuild her and make her rise again. They had a deep emotional attachment to the ship, having spent many years serving aboard her.
The lyrics of the song are a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. The crew is determined to bring the ship back to life, even though she had been left to rot at the bottom of the sea. They patch her up, stop her vents, and make her seaworthy once again. The song ends on an inspirational note, urging listeners to have the same fighting spirit as the Mary Ellen Carter and rise up again no matter what challenges they face in life.
Line by Line Meaning
She went down last October in a pouring driving rain
The ship Mary Ellen Carter sank in bad weather conditions in October.
The skipper, he'd been drinking and the Mate, he felt no pain
The captain had been drinking alcohol and the Mate was inebriated at the wheel.
Too close to Three Mile Rock, and she was dealt her mortal blow
The ship was too close to Three Mile Rock, and it got struck, leading to its sinking.
And the Mary Ellen Carter settled low
The Mary Ellen Carter sank and settled at the bottom of the ocean.
There were five of us aboard her when she finally was awash
Five crew members were on the ship when it started sinking.
We'd worked like hell to save her, all heedless of the cost
The crew worked tirelessly and were committed to saving the ship, despite the high cost.
And the groan she gave as she went down, it caused us to proclaim
The sound the ship made as it sank, made the crew swear to salvage it.
That the Mary Ellen Carter would rise again
The crew swore to lift the ship from the bottom of the ocean.
Well, the owners wrote her off; not a nickel would they spend
The ship's owners abandoned it and did not want to spend any money on its retrieval.
She gave twenty years of service, boys, then met her sorry end
The Mary Ellen Carter had served for 20 years before it was lost at sea.
But insurance paid the loss to them, they let her rest below
The ship's owners received insurance payout but chose to leave the ship underwater.
Then they laughed at us and said we had to go
The owners laughed at the crew for wanting to salvage the ship and asked them to leave.
But we talked of her all winter, some days around the clock
During the winter months, the crew talked about rescuing the Mary Ellen Carter non-stop.
For she's worth a quarter million, afloat and at the dock
The Mary Ellen Carter was valued at $250,000 if it was to be repaired and docked.
And with every jar that hit the bar, we swore we would remain
Every time the crew had a drink, they reaffirmed their commitment to salvage the ship.
And make the Mary Ellen Carter rise again
The crew wanted to salvage and fix the ship, so that it can sail again.
[Chorus:] Rise again, rise again, that her name not be lost To the knowledge of men Those who loved her best and were with her till the end Will make the Mary Ellen Carter rise again
The chorus is about how Mary Ellen Carter's name should live on and be remembered by people who loved her and worked to save her.
All spring, now, we've been with her on a barge lent by a friend
The crew rented a barge from a friend and spent the entire spring with it, working on the Mary Ellen Carter.
Three dives a day in hard hat suit and twice I've had the bends
The crew made three dives every day wearing special suits, and one of them had decompression sickness twice.
Thank God it's only sixty feet and the currents here are slow
The ship was only 60 feet deep underwater with slow currents, which made it easier for the crew to work on it.
Or I'd never have the strength to go below
The crew was physically exhausted and would've found it hard to contine working if the depth was more than 60 feet.
But we've patched her rents, stopped her vents, dogged hatch and porthole down
The crew successfully fixed the ships's leaks and made sure its hatches and portholes were closed.
Put cables to her, 'fore and aft and birded her around
The crew secured the ship with cables and made sure it was stable before they could lift it.
Tomorrow, noon, we hit the air and then take up the strain
The next day, at noon, they would lift the Mary Ellen Carter to the surface with air pressure and facial strain.
And watch the Mary Ellen Carter Rise Again
The crew was hopeful that they would be able to lift the ship and make it sail again.
[Chorus]
The same chorus repeats in this verse.
For we couldn't leave her there, you see, to crumble into scale
The crew could not leave the Mary Ellen Carter to waste away underwater.
She'd saved our lives so many times, living through the gale
The Mary Ellen Carter had protected the crew many times during strong winds and storms.
And the laughing, drunken rats who left her to a sorry grave
The owners of the ship, who abandoned it, were referred to as worthless people.
They won't be laughing in another day
The owners would not be able to mock the crew soon as the ship would be resurrected.
And you, to whom adversity has dealt the final blow
The singer refers to anyone who has faced big challenges or hardships.
With smiling bastards lying to you everywhere you go
The world is full of people who deceive and lie to you while appearing pleasant.
Turn to, and put out all your strength of arm and heart and brain
The singer encourages the listener to put all their effort and passion into overcoming their hardships.
And like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again
By using the Mary Ellen Carter's story as an inspiration, one can overcome life's obstacles and rise above them.
[Chorus] Rise again, rise again; though your heart it be broken And life about to end No matter what you've lost, be it a home, a love, a friend Like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again Rise again, rise again; though your heart it be broken And life about to end No matter what you've lost, be it a home, a love, a friend Like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again
The last chorus repeats twice, emphasizing the point of rising up again, no matter how life treats you.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mark Hall
"And you, to whom Adversity has dealt the final blow
With smiling bastards lying to you everywhere you go
Turn to, and put out all your strength of arm and heart and brain
And like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again!
Rise again! Rise again!
Though your heart it be broken or life about to end
No matter what you've lost, be it a home, a love, a friend
Like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again!!"
I think this is a fine anthem of defiance.
Whippy
This song influenced me to write this poem several years ago:
Our Love, Our Ship
The worker of a lady Who served her men so true
She brought us home so many
From oceans green and blue
The masts of steel and hull of white
‘Twas hard to see her go
As twilight came with driving rain
And took her down below
“So what to do?” the captain says
As we reminisce our love
“She is no more, she’s on the floor”
Cries he to God above
When comes a shout from crew around
“We’ll raise her once again!
We know from dreams of Fiddler's Green
That death is not the end.”
So on that day it came to pass
She was ours to protect
“She lives” said we, “It’s meant to be”
Our love we’d resurrect.
Remember by this tale of faith
Of men who persevere
To keep your hope to keep afloat
The things that you hold dear
jimmy Deathmatch
This song has stopped me from suicide so many times. That last verse in particular is what has saved me. "And to you to whom adversity has dealt a mortal blow , with smiling bastards lying to you every where you go.Turn to your strength of arm and heart and brain and like the Mary Ellen Carter rise again!"
Meg Oceanna
me too. any time i feel let down or pushed around or screwed with I listen to this, get chills, and feel instantly stronger.
Linen Gray
You are not alone I have listened to this song when I have felt tapped out as well. It always that line that makes me feel I can lick whatever life has chucked in my path.
Alan Drome
Just like the SS Marine Electric
Terry Isaac
@Meg Oceanna Last Saturday I had a very good friend die suddenly without warning. It was non Covid related and as far as we know without "pre-existing conditions". Although merely living is the ultimate prerequisite.
We called him Mr. Chuckles because he loved to laugh and was always good for a laugh!!! His smile and gentle good humor wiil be missed by
all who were lucky to know him.
In a world of smiling bastards, he was a breath of fresh air and a welcome relief!!!
RIP we will all miss you Chucky!!!
The Mary Ellen Carter was definitely our song good buddy!!!
Richard Brown
As someone that has dealt with the suicide I can promise you this life is better with you I it! Never give up on yourself, life is hard and challenging but always better with you in it!
Mike Saridakis
Admittedly, I've had a non insignificant amount to drink, but I am here crying listening to this song
Fwibos
I don't even need the drink!
dgk934
Can’t lie, the live version, with the introduction by a sailor talking about how he almost died in a lifeboat in rough seas, yelling this song trying to stay awake, it brings a tear to my eye every time.
https://youtu.be/fT-aEcPgkuA
Just one tear though. Everything in moderation right?
Adam Day
Samesies