Mann Gulch Fire

from Mann Gulch Fire by Levi Barrett

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lyrics

On the hottest day of August, 1949,
The call came in and all the men got dressed. Fifteen of the young and fearless kind.
For a few it was the first time ever jumping to a fire from a plane.
A greener crew than the captain ever knew, and he could hardly call a fighter by his name.

C-47 lifted off into the sky, so dry without a cloud to keep your eyes on.
The brave young brutes strapped on their parachutes and held their axes to the blackening horizon.
Through the Gates of the Mountains to the flames that were only growing higher,
Fifteen men on that smoke jumping plane came to meet the Mann Gulch Fire.

And even saplings came to fall
On the hottest day of all.
Even saplings came to fall.

One by one, they got the signal to throw themselves into the wind.
Whispered prayers on the way down and hoped to live to jump again.
Well the fight had hardly started in that three thousand acre living hell
And the escape that they had guarded, only narrowed as the flaming timbers fell.

And even saplings came to fall
On the hottest day of all.
Even saplings came to fall.

Captain knew that they could not outrun the flames,
But they could hardly hear his words above the roar.
He lit a match to burn an acre of his own
so when the fire came for fuel there'd be no more
He cried, "Follow me into the center, and when these embers settle down, it'll go around them."

Did they not hear him,

or did they not believe him?

Well, halfway to the ridge is where we found them.

And even saplings came to fall
On the hottest day of all
Even saplings came to fall.


© All rights reserved

credits

from Mann Gulch Fire, released September 18, 2018
Recorded by Coelacanth Sound, Helena MT. Lyrics and music written and performed by Levi Barrett.

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Levi Barrett Addison, Vermont

Levi Barrett is a singer, song writer, and multi-instrumentalist. Over the past twenty years he has contributed to many other artist’s studio recordings and on stage performances from New York City to Portland, Oregon. More recently he has been recording his own songs in Vermont. Hit the Follow button to hear his latest work as he releases new songs in the coming months. BMI registered, sync ready ... more

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