Dear Old Stan

From the streets of old Victoria to fair old Mabou town
From Portage to Spadina listen closely for the sound
A voice still echoes softly through the rivers and the plains
So don't you dare stop listening and don't forget his name

Arise and be merry
And sing out while you can
The world will never see the likes
Of dear old Stan

The Yanks have Woodie Guthrie, The British Ralph McTell
The Celts have got the Corries, aye and Ronnie Drew as well
Adge Cuter sings of cider out in the west country
But I am a Canadian, and so I say to thee

Arise and be merry
And sing out while you can
The world will never see the likes
Of dear old Stan

When I was just a nipper bouncing on my mummy’s knee
‘twas Harris and the Mare me boys she sweetly sang to me
And as I closed my eyes beneath the Northern moon so pale
I dreamed I was the Captain standing on the Nightingale

Arise and be merry
And sing out while you can
The world will never see the likes
Of dear old Stan

At the Wolf and Hound Vancouver, just for a pint or two
These blokes were singing Old Maui from the whales’ point of view
I thought of old Stan Rogers and walked straight out the bar
And started up the Dreadnoughts, and here we bloody are

Arise and be merry
And sing out while you can
The world will never see the likes
Of dear old Stan

Arise and be merry
And sing out while you can
The world will never see the likes
Of dear old Stan