Story Behind The Song

STORY OF "CAPTAIN JACK" THE RENOWNED SHAWNEE RIVERBOAT CAPTAIN.

Lyrics

JACK'S FORK
BY BILL BEACH

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FROM THE HEART TEXAS COUNTY, TO EMMINANCE MISSOURI
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THE CURRENT GETS ITS GLORY, FROM ITS MAIN TRIBUTARY
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THE RIVER KNOWN AS JACK'S FORKS FLOWS FROM ALLEY SPRINGS
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DEEP IN THE OZARKS, WHERE THE YELLOW WARBLER SINGS


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THE JACK'S FORK RIVER IS NAMED FOR ITS NATIVE SON
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SHAWNEE CAPTAIN FAMED LIKE NO OTHER ONE


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HE BECAME A STEAMBOAT CAPTAIN, MISSISSIPPI RIVER GUIDE
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BUT HE WAS JUST A STRAPPING KID, WHO HAD STOWED AWAY INSIDE
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A HERO WHO SINGLE-HANDEDLY SAVED A CAPTAIN'S NECK
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WHEN THE QUAKE OF NEW MADRID ENDED THEIR RIVER TREK


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THE JACK'S FORK RIVER IS NAMED FOR ITS NATIVE SON
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SHAWNEE CAPTAIN FAMED LIKE NO OTHER ONE


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THE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI FLOWED FROM SOUTH TO NORTH
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ALL THE OTHER BOATMEN, RAN PANICKED BACK AND FORTH
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JACK THE STOW-AWAY, PULLED THE CAPTAIN FROM THE WRECK
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STEERED THE BOAT TO SAFETY, THERE ON THE FIERY DECK

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THE JACK'S FORK RIVER IS NAMED FOR ITS NATIVE SON
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SHAWNEE CAPTAIN FAMED LIKE NO OTHER ONE


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FOR YEARS HE STEERED THE RIVER WITH A STEADY HAND
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THE SHAWNEE CAPTAIN JACK WAS KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE LAND
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LIVED IN PEACE BUT SORROW FOR HIS PEOPLE'S FATE
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KEPT HOPE THAT TOMORROW WOULD NOT COME TOO LATE


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THE JACK'S FORK RIVER IS NAMED FOR ITS NATIVE SON
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SHAWNEE CAPTAIN FAMED LIKE NO OTHER ONE


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A SPIRITED YOUNG WOMAN WITH FIERY SUNSET HAIR
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MENDED HIS CAPTAINS COAT WITH GREAT LOVING CARE
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FROM NEARBY RIPLEY COUNTY, IN THE IRISH WILDERNESS
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SHE MARRIED JACK AND TURNED HER BACK ON PREJUDICE.


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THE JACK'S FORK RIVER IS NAMED FOR ITS NATIVE SON
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SHAWNEE CAPTAIN FAMED LIKE NO OTHER ONE