The several lyrics that follow are representative of a much larger number written by Henry H. McFarlane, an inventor and writer who lived in Extension, BC, ca. 1913-4. While the majority of his lyrics, like "Mary Be at the Depot," reflect thoughts and concerns about love, and several are of a very lighthearted nature, as is "Hi Whiskers, Ho Whiskers," the most forceful of his compositions deal with the miners strike of 1913.Below are transcriptions of the lyrics, with light emendation (indicated by italics) and with links to their manuscript images. These lyrics and their images appear here with the permission, and through the courtesy, of the Nanaimo Community Archives.
- U.M.W. of A.
- We Miners on Vancouver Island
- Heed My Warning
- Mary Be at the Depot
- Hi Whiskers, Ho Whiskers
Although we are now sore oppressed by the grafters of our land,We Miners on Vancouver Island
The white feather we will never show, but defy their cruel demand.
Let Bowser and his numskulls do the worst they can,
For we'll soon be free and let them see we're every inch a man.
And this battle that has long begun will end no other way
Until the thievish coal barons on Vancouver Island say,
"The fight is over. We dispute no more the red flag you display
And we recognize the union of the U.M.W. of A."Chorus
Now to all those that have been traitors before they are in their grave
Will have lots of time to spend the blood money they have saved
And be known as the cowards, both near and far away,
That done their utmost to down the union of the U.M.W. of A.When our oppression does depart, and the battle we have won,
We'll keep those grafters in their place -- and the tyrants that have come
To make our lives a hell on earth to satisfy the scum
That sprang from Satan's sowings when the world begun.
Although we are now sore oppresed in the battle, we will stay
'Till we make the scabs and masters our union laws obey.
And the raising generation in years will glorify the day
That came to stay forever: the U.M.W. of A.Henry H. McFarlane fonds Code 22 Box 2 File 12, Item 2.
Image.We miners on Vancouver Island are dauntless.Heed My Warning
We're fighting for to keep the island free
Of the murders that are being imported
by the tyrants that are ruling in BC.
The battle is long and on one side, but we will not give in
Until our union is recognized and we hear the children sing.Chorus
Every miner is united, every-body full of glee,
For the battle is now ended and the red flag you can see
Flying on Vancouver Island -- no never more again to fall --
Where all shall see it wave in triumph from the union hall.We struck not for to fight the government.
We struck for to avoid an early grave.
But when the coal barons knew they were beaten,
they called up Bowser for to save
The traitors that has took our place. But gladly they will fly
When they see our union banner and hear us loudly cry.They have tried their very best to break our union
by sending fools with guns and police to,
And thrown our men in jail to languish
by the lies the cowards and traitors spew,
But that won't break our unity, for which we'll gladly die to win
To live in peace and happiness and hear our children sing.Henry H. McFarlane fonds Code 22 Box 2 File 12, Item 4.
Image.Heed my warning, scabs and traitors, before your offspring know the griefMary Be at the Depot
That you're bestowing on them forever with your selfish unbelief.
Break not the hearts that are a waking cloud. You need not their youthful lease.
Listen to my timely warning. Let their life be joy and peace.
Listen to my kindly warning, before your life on earth does cease.2
Heed my pleadings, deluded bigots. Join our union, heart and hand.
Show to the world you've now awakened to the oppression of our land.
Let those tyrants that beguile you sup the sorrow the have give.
Heed my warning. Be our brother, that in honour you may live.
Do not shame your wife or mother, or the children God has give.3
Do not trust those murdering pirates that have robbed us of our land.
Do not help them to fill the graveyard or take our lives strand by strand.
Do be valid: despise the tyrants that do smile when you're in pain.
Listen to my earnest pleadings. Do not have me plead in vain.
Hear your loved ones, sincerely seeking that you'll not disgrace their name.4
Ask those imposters if they'll provide you when you're feeble, old, and gray.
Will they take you in their mansions when your strength does fade away?
Shall they shelter, clothe, and feed you when all else shall say you "Nay"?
Harken unto what I'm relating. Listen to what I do say.
Join our union. Bear the standard of the U.M.W. of A.Henry H. McFarlane fonds Code 22 Box 2 File 12, Item 5.
Image.In a little fishing village, on the Mississippi shore,Hi Whiskers, Ho Whiskers
I am writing my last letter to the girl that I love and adore.
For, in another week, I will be speeding on my way
To the darling of my heart, and with her I mean to stay.
Many's the good and true friends in my travels I did find,
But my heart is always calling for the love I left behind.
And the new friends I met may be honest, good, and true,
But give to me the old ones, for they are better than the new.Chorus
So it's Mary be at the depot for the arrival of the train,
For I am longing and I am waiting to see my darling love again.
And when a telegram you receive, phone for a horse's hack
That you can be at the depot in time to welcome your Henry back.And when I start on my journey, on the train that will carry me through,
I pray that it will meet with no accident, and it will bring me safe to you.
The long journey I am dreading and I do wish that it was o'er,
For I will never be real happy, love, until we meet to part no more.
Then when we meet again, my love, in the land you love so well,
We will seek out some lover's nook where our love to each other can tell.
And when a lover's nest we find, and we know that the course is clear,
We can kiss and squeeze each other, my love, and have nothing for to fear.Chorus
So it's Mary be at the depot for the arrival of the train,
For I am longing and I am waiting to see my darling love again.
And when a telegram you receive, phone for a horse's hack
That you can be at the depot in time to welcome your Henry back.Henry H. McFarlane fonds Code 22 Box 2 File 12, Item 10.
Image.Now everyone, since I begun a whisker for to grow,
At me they laugh, and then will chaff and say they would like to know
If the price they raise would I take a place at the next animal show,
For I would be a treat for the farmers to meet, and a prize I'll get if I go.
Now can anyone say why they are willing to pay, I at this fair should be?
For a rancher I'm not, nor yet have I got a cow or a donkey.
And the kids from the school break the golden rule whenever me they see,
As every girl and boy will shout with joy this little rhyme after me.Chorus
Hi whiskers, ho whiskers. When are you going in
To see the man with the razor in hand and get the hair from off your chin.
If you follow this plan you'll be more like a man. Then we won't cry after you
"Hi whiskers, ho whiskers. You better go back to the zoo!"Now it's no lie when I say that was the way men were a long time ago,
And young men would fret if they couldn't get a whisker for to grow,
For it was the maid's delight when, out at night, to cuddle in below
What very few just now can do: the whiskers of her beau.
So every young beau let your whiskers grow, and let your sweetheart see
That you are no boy and she is sure to enjoy, when she sits upon your knee,
For to stroke the long hair when to her you swear you never would happy be
If she would join in with the kids for to sing this little rhyme after me.Henry H. McFarlane fonds Code 22 Box 2 File 12, Item 27.
Image.
Transcriptions (c) 1999- R.G. Siemens.
Images (c) 1999- Nanaimo Community Archives.
(7 September 1999)