Although I was heavily involved in the music business for almost thirty years, I only once chatted with Stompin’ Tom Connors.
I enjoyed Stompin’ Tom’s music. I appreciated his sincere patriotism. I considered him an excellent folklorist and a true balladeer. However, my admiration for Stompin’ Tom goes all the way back to the night of August 8, 1969; the night before Anne and I got married, and the one time that I talked to him.
Lou McGuire, Don (Boo) MacDonald and I had gone to the famed Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto, where Stompin’ Tom was performing, to celebrate my last night of bachelorhood. When we arrived there we were surprised to see three tables of people we knew: one occupied by a number of Anne’s PEI relatives, who had come to Toronto for the wedding; one where some other Islanders that we knew were sitting; and one occupied by some of my Toronto friends. None of the parties knew that the others were going to be there.
During the course of the evening someone (no one has ever taken credit for it) sent a note up to Stompin’ Tom. He read the note, leaned into the mic in his patented slightly-humped pose, and said, “There’s a young fella from PEI here tonight named Lyman MacInnis. This note, which ain’t signed, says that Lyman’s getting married tomorrow, and whoever sent it up wants me to sing a funny song for him.”
Tom paused for a moment, clearly thinking about something, and then went on. “Well, folks, marriage shouldn’t be made fun of. Marriage is a sacred thing. So I’m not going to sing a ‘funny’ song. But, Lyman, I am going to sing a song for you, and here it is.”
He then sang Hank Snow’s touching With This Ring I Thee Wed. He started off with just his own guitar as accompaniment, but his band quickly picked up the key and tempo and joined in.
At his next break I introduced myself to Tom, thanked him for his thoughtfulness, and we chatted for a couple of minutes, a chat that ended with his strong handshake and warm wishes for a “long, happy marriage.”
For those of you who may not be familiar with the song, here are the lyrics.
With this ring I thee wed
An angel here beside me
A moment more
And heaven will be mine
With this ring I thee wed
As every dream inside me
Comes true each time
I hear the church bells chime
This little band of gold I hold
Will soon be on your finger
A vow and now
That moment so divine
With this ring I thee wed
And make you mine forever
To have and hold
Until the end of time
With our hearts tied as one
We leave the church together
As we know that
We will always be
In a life just begun this day
That will live forever
Like blossoms
In a treasured memory
Your big bouquet may fade away
But as the years go by, dear
I'll take your hand each day
And say anew
With this ring I thee wed
I vow to love you truly
And every day
You'll hear me say, "I do."
Rest in peace, you wonderful man.