260
Jack Haggerty
The history of this song (otherwise known as 'The Flat River
Girl') has been worked out by personal investigation of the persons
and place concerned by Geraldine J. Chickering (MLN l 465-8).
Haggerty was a real person, though not the author of the song.
It was made, it seems, by one of Haggerty's fellow woodsmen at
Greenville on Flat River, Michigan, in the winter of 1872-73, as a
sort of spite-song against one Mercer, engaged to the girl of the
story (whose name was Anna Tucker), because Mercer had been
appointed foreman of the logging team though he was younger and
less experienced in the business than the Irishman McGinnis, who
made up the song and put Haggerty's name to it. One would not
expect a song so made to last long or travel far ; yet 'Jack Haggerty'
is known and sung by woodsmen pretty much everywhere there are
lumberjacks; in Maine (MM 124-5, MWS 74-5), New Hampshire
(FSONE 214-7), Pennsylvania (NPM 212-3), Michigan (BSSB
3-5, SML 123-32, BSSM 267-9), Wisconsin (ASb 392-3), Minne-
sota (BSSB 8-10), and North Dakota (BSSB 6-8), and very likely
elsewhere. The text in our collection does not represent North
Carolina tradition, having been secured by Mrs. Vance of Plum-
tree, Avery county, from a girl who came from Shelby, Wisconsin.
'Jack Haggerty.' Contributed through Mrs. Vance by Dorothy Royall
of Shelby, Wisconsin.
I I'm a broken-hearted raftsman, from Greenville I came;
I courted a lassie, a girl of great fame.
But cruel-hearted Cupid has caused me much grief;
My heart it's asunder, I can ne'er find relief.
NATIVE AMERICAN BALLADS 6ll
■1 My troubles I'll tell you without more delay.
A comely young lassie my heart stole away.
She was a blacksmith's only daughter from Flat River side,
And I always intended for to make her my bride.
3 I brought her rich jewels and the finest of lace
And the costliest of muslins; it was her I'd embrace.
I gave her my wages for her to keep safe ;
I begrudged her nothing that I had myself.
4 My name is Jack Haggerty where the white waters flow ;
My name it's engraved on the rocks of the shore ;
I'm a boy that stands happy on a log in the streams,
My heart was with Hannah, for she haunted my dreams.
5 I went up the river some money to make.
I was steadfast and steady, I ne'er played the rake.
Through Hart and through Shelby I am very well known ;
They call me Jack Haggerty, the pride of the town.
6 One day on the river a letter I received
That it was from her promises herself she'd relieved ;
She'd be wed to a young man who a long time delayed,
And the next time I'd see her she would not be a maid.
7 Then adieu to Flat River! For me there's no rest.
I'll shoulder my peavey and I'll go out West.
I'll go to Muskegon some pleasures to find.
And I'll leave my own Flat River darling behind.
8 So come all you jolly raftsmen with hearts stout and true,
Don't depend on a woman ; you're sunk if you do.
And if you chance to meet one with dark chestnut curls.
Just think of Jack Haggerty and his Flat River girls.