Oh Marie dates back to a bygone era that portrays a colourful view of the union dance. All the characters mentioned here are real life personalities, and my father and mother are the main protagonists . My father was an International Union rep and he and my mother were excellent dancers - “The King and the Queen of the Ball”. It’s an honest, fun song that I think captures the era perfectly.
Fredrick Brooks - Vocal/Acoustic Guitar
Jeff Brackett - Mandolin/Acoustic Guitar
Alex Paris - Bass
Ray Hickey Jr. - Banjo
Joy, Caroline, Katherine Brooks - Harmonies
Produced by Paul LaChappelle, Fredrick Brooks and Jeff Brackett
Recorded and mastered at Quest Recording
Lyrics
Oh Marie
It’s round past eight and I can see the writing on the wall
That ole man’s heart is pounding fast
And it’s time to heed the call
He says “Where’s my liquor - where’s my smokes?
I can hardly wait - that union hall is breathing hard
And it’s time to escape.
Chorus
And Oh Marie - lets go dancing
We’ll be the King and the Queen of the ball
Oh Marie let’s go dancing and forget about this life for awhile.
Now Davey’s talking C.C.F. and how he hates the companies rules
Long John’s crying in his beer how he wished he’d stayed in school
And the smoke gets denser by the minute and a band strikes up a reel
And those lady folk grab each other’s hand with a loneliness so real.
Chorus
Now we’re all brothers come bout one o five
We sing Solidarity’s Forever and the whiskey makes it fine
And they played God Save the Queen (God Save our Gracious Queen) and I never questioned why
And tomorrow that whistle blows and we march in - in style.
Chorus
(c) Fredrick Brooks 1996