Charles Ermatinger

Setting out from Montreal when he was twenty-one
In 1798, far from the peaks of Switzerland
Charles Ermatinger was the name he took along
As he paddled to his fate and sang this happy song
As he paddled to his fate and sang this happy song

In a big birchbark canoe he traveled ''til he ached
Arriving that first winter in a place near Sandy Lake
To live with the Ojibway and to trade for their pelts
All this he accomplished and even something else
All this he accomplished and even something else

He fell in love and married the daughter of the chief
All before the spring of' 99 had sprung a leaf
He traveled far and wide like those fur traders do
And then he sang this song as he paddled for the Sault
And then he sang this song as he paddled for the Sault

Charles and Mananowe made Sault Ste. Marie their home
Raising many children inside their house of stone
Then a war came to be called in the year of 1812
And Ermatinger bade his wife and his children farewell
Ermatinger bade his wife and his children farewell

Charles was the Captain of his fifty hired men
They joined soldiers, volunteers and 300 Indians
They took Fort Mackinaw without firing a shot
And as they paddled home they sang this song a lot
Yes as they paddled home they sang this song a lot

Two years later Charles had a pretty close call
With soldiers who were on their way to take back Mackinaw
They landed in the Sault and they set the place alight
And every man and woman started running for their life
Yes every man and woman started running for their life

Only Charles remained standing firm on his land
And when he was approached he said, Im just an honest man
The Americans decided they would leave his house alone
And as they sailed away, Charles sang this song
Yes as they sailed away, Charles sang this song

Setting out for Montreal at the age of fifty-two
Charles and his family departed from the Sault
It was a five week journey and that seems very long
But for Charles Ermatinger it was all too quickly gone
Yes for Charles Ermatinger it was all too quickly gone as he sang