These lyrics were written at the request of Clive Romney -- a song setting of the story of Levi Stewart, who lost a wife and some children to a fire in the fort where they lived in Southern Utah.
Levi, rise and listen, rise and listen to the calls
The fort guard, all asleep, done missed the noise
A blaze has risen up, has risen up to lick the walls
A fire in the bedroom of your darling young boys
A fire in the bedroom of your boys
Levi, see the roof there, see the roof there all ablaze
And see the smoke a ‘risin’ black and thick
Behind the wall’s a’filled, the room’s a’filled with powder kegs
And stores of kerosene all set to go and go quick
Those stores of kerosene are going quick
And Margery, oh Margery, where did you go
Won’t somebody run and tell old Levi, tell old Levi, tell old Levi oh
Levi, there’s the kitchen there’s the kitchen now aflame
And as the fire and smoke and panic runs
We’ve shouted and we’ve shouted and we’ve shouted Margery’s name
We fear she’s gone into the blaze to find your young sons
We fear she’s gone to find your sleeping sons
And Margery, oh Margery, where did you go
Won’t somebody run and tell old Levi, tell old Levi, tell old Levi oh
Axes take and batter out now batter out the walls
And call and call and call and call their names
Marjery and all five little boys may hear your calls
Call ‘em through the powder and the kerosene in flames
Levi, fire’ll take the fort in flames
Up men, raise your heads beneath your heavy load
Soft as smoke now, lay them down
Oh Heavy, heavy
Six of us have gone now, now six fewer on our road
Keep on, for it’s what she’d have us do
Push on through
Every time I light the cooking fires
The flames there in the forge
Or the watch fires on the walls
Oh heavy, heavy
Each flickering fire will ever cast six shadows on the wall
Love gone, fair sons and you
Whatever will I do?
I suppose that we’ll survive, and I suppose that we’ll repair
Rise up from the wreckage, ever
Heavy, oh heavy
Whenever there’s a fire or a light you will be there
Hang on, it’s what’ll get me through
Margery, it’s you