Jakob Schottle from Scarlett's Guitar by The Mighty Frasers
Tracklist
| 11. | Jakob Schottle | 6:18 |
Lyrics
Prologue
“Jakob Schottle is a legend, at least to the people living around Adams Lake.
We were living at Brennan Creek; I was 7 and my brother Bob 9. Mother warned us: “Mr. Schottle is coming for trapper bait today, and he doesn’t want to be bothered by little boys; so, stay away from him!” Well … you can imagine how that went …
Bob and I were waiting for him down at the dock when he came rowing up. He looked at us, never smiled or said hello. I remember he had a bushy red beard and piercing blue eyes.
He walked up to the house carrying a bucket, and shortly came walking back. He got into his boat and rowed away, heading up the lake. He never said a word to us. It was the only time I ever saw him.
Bridge 1
Hear it in the owls’ lament - or
Catch it in the ice-sheets’ thunder
In the children’s verses
Or a message in a bottle
Don’t be caught by Momich River
Or you’ll meet Jakob Schottle
Verse 1
Where’d get those eyes of yours
Were they born or forged in fire
What do they see that burns so blue
A fever, guns for hire
Go on, square your shoulders, sturdy man
If she can conquer it, you can
Yes you can – you’re the man
Verse 2
Do you see her face there Jake
In the marten’s glassy stare
Was her hair so black and shiny
Did you dress it with such care
So, set the jaws and add the bait
Eye for eye, you’ll seal its fate
Chorus
And row, Jakob row
Stab the water, slice it deep
Row, Jacob row
Past the Lime Bluffs, always keep
On Jacob row, Jacob row
Forty miles before you sleep
Verse 3
It’s just another tree there Jake
Whose grey eyes seem to taunt you
They’re not spies and thieves who’ve come to take her memory
And haunt you
Ah, so take your tea and drink your grog
And carve the legend – “Gott is a dog”
He’s a dog, a filthy dog
Verse 4
Is Caribou Lodge the Momich shrine
And why you stand as soldier
No forestry crew will ever move
One balsam or one boulder
So, face Art Stratton toe-to-toe
Show him where his road can go
Chorus
And row, Jakob row
Stab the water, slice it deep
Row, Jakob row
Past the Lime Bluffs, always keep
On Jacob row, Jacob, row
Forty miles before you sleep
Verse 5
How’d you find the Adams Jake
Did the brooding spruce trees guide you
Or did Michigan stir to the towering fir
Or did the ravens find you
Is this how your peace was won
Your head blown through by your own damn gun
Solo Break
Bridge 2
Still, hear it in the owls’ lament
Or catch it in the ice-sheets’ thunder
In the Aspen’s curses
Or a message in her throttle
Don’t be caught by Momich River
Or you’ll hear Jakob Schottle
Say: “Gott is a dog.”
Epilogue
Now, Art Stratton, well, he ran the Aspen, the Forestry Boat on Adams Lake and to the best of my knowledge, he was the only man around these parts not leery of Jakob Schottle.
My uncle, Dave Fraser, who ran the tug on Adams Lake, wouldn’t tie up overnight at the Momich River. He said it was haunted by Jakob’s ghost. Of course, he was a sea captain from back East, and they were a superstitious lot!
