Harry Dunne

(Traditional)

An unusual song for Merasheen Island, Harry Dunne relates a lumbering woods tragedy. It was sung, however, for many years in Merasheen and in later years, primarily by Edgar and Donald Wilson.
Sung here by their nephew, Ray Hann of Merasheen.

I once did know a charming lad
his name was Harry Dunn,
his father being a farmer,
and Harry his only son;
He had every thing he needed,
a farm of splendid land,
But he wanted to have a trial
in the woods in Michigan.

The morning that Harry was going away,
his mother to him did say,
"Oh Harry dear, don't leave your home,
and with your parents stay;
Don't leave your poor old father,
your mother and sisters three,
For there's something seems to tell me
that your face no more I'll see."

As Harry started on his way
for Buffalo the next day,
He hired with a lumbering man
in Michigan far away;
He worked away for three long months
and often would write home,
Saying, "Winter will soon be over
and then I will go home."

One morning, as Harry rose from his bunk,
no smile was on his brow,
He called his chum outside the door,
whose name was Charlie Dow;
Saying, "Charlie dear, I had a dream
that fills my heart with woe,
I fear there's something wrong at home,
and it's there I'd better go."

His comrades only laughed at him
which pleased him for awhile,
Saying, "Harry dear, it's no time to go,
it's the time to fell the pine."
They worked away until three o'clock
all on that fatal day,
Til a hanging limb fell down on him
and crushed him to the clay.

His comrades gathered around him,
where broken he lay cast,
Saying, "Charle dear, I'm dying,
my time has come at last."
"So pick me up and take me out
and send my body home,
to my old aging parents,
why did I from them roam."

So early the next morning,
as brilliant shone the sun,
a man brought home the body
of the poor young Harry Dunn;
And when his mother saw him
she fell dead on the ground,
It was for her son that she loved so much
 her soul was heavenward bound.

As for the dear old father
he lingered for a while,
But every day thereafter
was never known to smile;
And less than six weeks after
they buried that poor old man,
So now you can see the deadly curse
on the woods of Michigan.