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Canada's King of the Rum Running

from Maple Flavoured by The Connors Brothers

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about

Ben Kerr. A big thankyou to the Friends of Presq'uile Provincial park for their historic display at the Park and for their guidance in digging up more history about this very interesting man. Credit must go to C.W Hunt's "Whiskey and Ice" for providing some amazing back story and a glimpse into the history of this man and the Canada that he lived in.

lyrics

Canada’s King of The Rum Running

(He was) Canada’s King of the Rum Running
Running near and far
On Pres’quile Bay, that was Ben Kerr’s way
Crusing in the dark

A champion and a union man, plummer by trade
Claire de Lune and ragtime too, for a defiant crowd he played
This piano man was thrown off key by a Riot Act that night
He supported the cause and without a pause,
That’s when he joined the fight

He bought some land on Ontario’s Lake, building boats by hand
With a hull made of wood, sheated in steel she could travel to American land
The Martimas carried the whiskey and beer, a dangerous trek she’d make
Prohibition had struck, it was just Ben’s luck
‘Though he was playing with high stakes

A silent but deadly partner he had, his fortune he now made
He didn’t feel fear running whiskey and beer avoiding each Coast Guard raid
Respected and loved by many he was, a hockey fan he became
Raised a glass with the men, team sponsor for them,
Sharing his wealth and fame

Then one dreadful night his luck would run it’s final course
He set out that night, while other who might stayed home; the water was coarse
The Pollywog was the vessel that he made this last attempt
Murdered or lost, we’ll not know the cost
That he paid in this event

credits

from Maple Flavoured, released May 8, 2015
music and lyrics by John Connors

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all rights reserved

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The Connors Brothers Georgina, Ontario

The Connors Brothers play a variety of genres, such as East Coast, Celtic, Blues, Funk, Canadiana, Acoustic Rock and Folk Music. The Connors Brothers was born from a series of jam sessions by brothers John (Vocals, Guitar, Piano), David (Vocals, Bass) and Joe (Vocals, banjo, guitar, bodhran and drums) and they are joined by family friend Mel Harrigan (Vocals, Fiddle, Guitar). ... more

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