Big Joe Mufferaw was a French Canadianfolk hero from the Ottawa Valley, perhaps best known today as the hero of a song by Stompin' Tom Connors. Like Paul Bunyan, he made his living chopping down trees. The name is also sometimes spelled Muffero, Muffera, Muffraw, and Montferrand. The last spelling is more common among francophones; anglophones who had trouble with it used one of the other spellings.
In addition to being the subject of many Paul Bunyan-esque tall tales, Mufferaw is sometimes enlisted as a defender of oppressed French Canadian loggers in the days when their bosses were English-Canadians and their rivals for work were Irish-Canadians. In one story, Big Joe was in a Montreal bar, where a British army major named Jones was freely insulting French Canadians. After Big Joe beat the major, he bellowed, "Any more insults for the Canadians?"
Some Mufferaw tales take place in the northeast United States.
A real strongman, a logger in the Ottawa Valley timber trade by the name of Joseph Montferrand lived from 1802 to 1864. French Canadian writer Benjamin Sulte told this man's story in a 1975 book. He also is the subject of a chapter in Joan Finnegan's 1981 book Giants of the Ottawa Valley and her 1983 book Look! The Land Is Growing Giants. Bernie Bedore of Arnprior also wrote several books recounting Joe's adventures.
"Big Joe Mufferaw" is a single by Canadian country music artist Stompin' Tom Connors written about French Canadian folk hero Big Joe Mufferaw. It was re-recorded in 1999 for his Move Along With Stompin' Tom album. The song describes the following tall tales, with many references to the Ottawa Valley:
Joe "paddled in to Mattawa all the way from Ottawa in just one day".
Joe had a "pet frog who was bigger than a horse, and barked like a dog."
Mississippi Lake was formed as a result of sweat dripping off his face, as the citizens of Carleton Place can attest to.
Joe portaged from Gatineau to Kemptville, to see his girlfriend, and "he was back and forth so many times to see that gal, the path he wore became the Rideau Canal."
He "put out a forest fire halfway between Renfrew and old Arnprior. He was 50 miles away, down around Smiths Falls, when he drowned out the fire with five spitballs."
He "jumped in the Calabogie Lake real fast and swam both ways to catch a cross eyed bass, but he threw it to the ground and said "I can't eat that," so he covered it up with Mount St. Pat."
Charles Thomas "Stompin' Tom" Connors, OC (February 9, 1936– March 6, 2013) was a Canadiancountry and folksinger-songwriter. Focusing his career exclusively on his native Canada, Connors is credited with writing more than 300 songs and has released four dozen albums, with total sales of nearly 4 million copies. Connors died at 77 in his home in Ballinafad, Ontario, of renal failure.
Isabel's family were Protestant, and his maternal grandfather, John Connors, was a sea captain from Boston, Massachusetts who had died before Stompin' Tom was born. Stompin' Tom's father was a Catholic of Irish and French ancestry, and "may have been Métis or ... Micmac." Isabel Connors and Thomas Joseph Sullivan didn't wed until 30 years later, probably because Sullivan's family were devout Catholics and didn't want him marrying a Protestant; they later divorced. Sullivan's mother gave him $10, and was told to leave home. Connors was also cousin of New Brunswick fiddling sensation, Ned Landry.
Provided to YouTube by Anthem Entertainment (Masters)
Big Joe Mufferaw · Stompin' Tom Connors
Stompin' Tom Meets Big Joe Mufferaw
℗ 1973 Anthem Entertainment Group
Released on: 1973-10-10
Auto-generated by YouTube.
published: 01 Apr 2020
Stompin' Tom Connors - Big Joe Mufferaw
Stompin' Tom Connors Live at The Hamilton Place, Hamilton, Ontario CANADA [2005]. I Do Not Own The Rights For This.
published: 02 Jun 2010
Stompin' Tom Connors - Margo's Cargo (Official Music Video)
Official music video for Stompin' Tom Connors' "Margo's Cargo".
published: 14 Sep 2020
Kidstuff - Big Joe Muffera and Johnny Chinook
Big Joe Muffera and Johnny Chinook, they tell it like it is in the history books.....oh yeah!
published: 25 Feb 2009
Big Joe Mufferaw (Live At The Horseshoe)
Provided to YouTube by Anthem Entertainment (Masters)
Big Joe Mufferaw (Live At The Horseshoe) · Stompin' Tom Connors
Live At The Horseshoe
℗ 1970 Anthem Entertainment Group
Released on: 1970-07-31
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by Anthem Entertainment (Masters)
Big Joe Mufferaw · Stompin' Tom Connors
Stompin' Tom Meets Big Joe Mufferaw
℗ 1973 Anthem Entertainment...
Provided to YouTube by Anthem Entertainment (Masters)
Big Joe Mufferaw · Stompin' Tom Connors
Stompin' Tom Meets Big Joe Mufferaw
℗ 1973 Anthem Entertainment Group
Released on: 1973-10-10
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by Anthem Entertainment (Masters)
Big Joe Mufferaw · Stompin' Tom Connors
Stompin' Tom Meets Big Joe Mufferaw
℗ 1973 Anthem Entertainment Group
Released on: 1973-10-10
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by Anthem Entertainment (Masters)
Big Joe Mufferaw (Live At The Horseshoe) · Stompin' Tom Connors
Live At The Horseshoe
℗ 1970 Anthem Ent...
Provided to YouTube by Anthem Entertainment (Masters)
Big Joe Mufferaw (Live At The Horseshoe) · Stompin' Tom Connors
Live At The Horseshoe
℗ 1970 Anthem Entertainment Group
Released on: 1970-07-31
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by Anthem Entertainment (Masters)
Big Joe Mufferaw (Live At The Horseshoe) · Stompin' Tom Connors
Live At The Horseshoe
℗ 1970 Anthem Entertainment Group
Released on: 1970-07-31
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Stompin' Tom Connors in Concert [2005] Full Concert
I Do Not Own The Rights For This.
published: 22 Oct 2012
Stompin' Tom Connors - Bud The Spud
From "Across This Land"
published: 17 Oct 2010
Stompin' Tom Connors - Live at the Horseshoe Tavern
Here are a few of Stompin' Tom's best. This was recorded live at the Horseshoe Tavern in downtown Toronto, Ontario Canada. This is just a few songs from the film "Across This Land." To watch the entire film click the link below. He was a true Canadian Icon and may he rest in peace and forever sail away in the golden dory. 1936-2013
Acoss This Land
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dvtrWRTo4w
1) Sudbury Saturday Night
2) Bud the Spud
3) Luke's Guitar
4) Roll On Saskatchewan
5) The Moon-Man Newfie
6) Old Atlantic Shore
7) Goodbye Rubberhead
8) The Hockey Song
9) Big Joe Mufferaw
10) Mule Skinner Blues (I LOVE the face at 28:38)
11) My Stompin' Grounds
published: 07 Mar 2013
Stompin' Tom Connors - The Hockey Song
From the staff at www.stompintom.com
We must regretfully announce today the passing of the Great and Patriotic Stompin' Tom Connors. He died this March 6th 2013 with his Family seeing him off. His family have given us a message from Tom that he wanted passed along to all of you upon his death:
"Hello friends, I want all my fans, past, present, or future, to know that without you, there would have not been any Stompin' Tom."
"It was a long hard bumpy road, but this great country kept me inspired with it's beauty, character, and spirit, driving me to keep marching on and devoted to sing about its people and places that make Canada the greatest country in the world."
"I must now pass the torch, to all of you, to help keep the Maple Leaf flying high, and be the Patriot Canada needs now an...
published: 26 May 2010
Stompin' Tom Connors - Margo's Cargo (Official Music Video)
Official music video for Stompin' Tom Connors' "Margo's Cargo".
published: 14 Sep 2020
Stompin' Tom Connors - Sudbury Saturday Night
http://acrossthislandwith.wix.com/stompintomconnors#!slideshow/chts
Horseshoe Tavern circa 1973
He is known for many classic hits,
including "Bud The Spud" "Ben In The Pen"
"Margo's Cargo" "Sudbury Saturday Night"
"The Hockey Song" "Luke's Guitar" "The Ketchup Song"
and many more!
Stompin' Tom combines the sound of
traditional country western music,
with Canadian folk music.
A very unique blend!
His influences include:
Wilf Carter, Hank Snow, Hank Williams,
Johnny Cash, Roger Miller
published: 15 Sep 2011
Stompin' Tom Connors - Tillsonburg
published: 08 Mar 2013
Stompin' Tom Connors - The Ketchup Song
Live at the Horseshoe Tavern in 1973!
published: 22 Sep 2011
Stompin' Tom Connors - Moon Man Newfie
From the staff at www.stompintom.com
We must regretfully announce today the passing of the Great and Patriotic Stompin' Tom Connors. He died this March 6th 2013 with his Family seeing him off. His family have given us a message from Tom that he wanted passed along to all of you upon his death:
"Hello friends, I want all my fans, past, present, or future, to know that without you, there would have not been any Stompin' Tom."
"It was a long hard bumpy road, but this great country kept me inspired with it's beauty, character, and spirit, driving me to keep marching on and devoted to sing about its people and places that make Canada the greatest country in the world."
"I must now pass the torch, to all of you, to help keep the Maple Leaf flying high, and be the Patriot Canada needs now an...
Here are a few of Stompin' Tom's best. This was recorded live at the Horseshoe Tavern in downtown Toronto, Ontario Canada. This is just a few songs from the fil...
Here are a few of Stompin' Tom's best. This was recorded live at the Horseshoe Tavern in downtown Toronto, Ontario Canada. This is just a few songs from the film "Across This Land." To watch the entire film click the link below. He was a true Canadian Icon and may he rest in peace and forever sail away in the golden dory. 1936-2013
Acoss This Land
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dvtrWRTo4w
1) Sudbury Saturday Night
2) Bud the Spud
3) Luke's Guitar
4) Roll On Saskatchewan
5) The Moon-Man Newfie
6) Old Atlantic Shore
7) Goodbye Rubberhead
8) The Hockey Song
9) Big Joe Mufferaw
10) Mule Skinner Blues (I LOVE the face at 28:38)
11) My Stompin' Grounds
Here are a few of Stompin' Tom's best. This was recorded live at the Horseshoe Tavern in downtown Toronto, Ontario Canada. This is just a few songs from the film "Across This Land." To watch the entire film click the link below. He was a true Canadian Icon and may he rest in peace and forever sail away in the golden dory. 1936-2013
Acoss This Land
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dvtrWRTo4w
1) Sudbury Saturday Night
2) Bud the Spud
3) Luke's Guitar
4) Roll On Saskatchewan
5) The Moon-Man Newfie
6) Old Atlantic Shore
7) Goodbye Rubberhead
8) The Hockey Song
9) Big Joe Mufferaw
10) Mule Skinner Blues (I LOVE the face at 28:38)
11) My Stompin' Grounds
From the staff at www.stompintom.com
We must regretfully announce today the passing of the Great and Patriotic Stompin' Tom Connors. He died this March 6th 201...
From the staff at www.stompintom.com
We must regretfully announce today the passing of the Great and Patriotic Stompin' Tom Connors. He died this March 6th 2013 with his Family seeing him off. His family have given us a message from Tom that he wanted passed along to all of you upon his death:
"Hello friends, I want all my fans, past, present, or future, to know that without you, there would have not been any Stompin' Tom."
"It was a long hard bumpy road, but this great country kept me inspired with it's beauty, character, and spirit, driving me to keep marching on and devoted to sing about its people and places that make Canada the greatest country in the world."
"I must now pass the torch, to all of you, to help keep the Maple Leaf flying high, and be the Patriot Canada needs now and in the future."
"I humbly thank you all, one last time, for allowing me in your homes, I hope I continue to bring a little bit of cheer into your lives from the work I have done."
Sincerely,
Your Friend always,
Stompin' Tom Connors
*********************************************
Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings and Boston Bruins footage from Maple Leaf Gardens, with brief shots of Bobby Orr and Gordie Howe.
Featured in 1973's "Across This Land with Stompin' Tom Connors", with live performance filmed at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto.
The entire film can be seen on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTLlREVZvQQ
From the staff at www.stompintom.com
We must regretfully announce today the passing of the Great and Patriotic Stompin' Tom Connors. He died this March 6th 2013 with his Family seeing him off. His family have given us a message from Tom that he wanted passed along to all of you upon his death:
"Hello friends, I want all my fans, past, present, or future, to know that without you, there would have not been any Stompin' Tom."
"It was a long hard bumpy road, but this great country kept me inspired with it's beauty, character, and spirit, driving me to keep marching on and devoted to sing about its people and places that make Canada the greatest country in the world."
"I must now pass the torch, to all of you, to help keep the Maple Leaf flying high, and be the Patriot Canada needs now and in the future."
"I humbly thank you all, one last time, for allowing me in your homes, I hope I continue to bring a little bit of cheer into your lives from the work I have done."
Sincerely,
Your Friend always,
Stompin' Tom Connors
*********************************************
Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings and Boston Bruins footage from Maple Leaf Gardens, with brief shots of Bobby Orr and Gordie Howe.
Featured in 1973's "Across This Land with Stompin' Tom Connors", with live performance filmed at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto.
The entire film can be seen on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTLlREVZvQQ
http://acrossthislandwith.wix.com/stompintomconnors#!slideshow/chts
Horseshoe Tavern circa 1973
He is known for many classic hits,
including "Bud The Spud" "...
http://acrossthislandwith.wix.com/stompintomconnors#!slideshow/chts
Horseshoe Tavern circa 1973
He is known for many classic hits,
including "Bud The Spud" "Ben In The Pen"
"Margo's Cargo" "Sudbury Saturday Night"
"The Hockey Song" "Luke's Guitar" "The Ketchup Song"
and many more!
Stompin' Tom combines the sound of
traditional country western music,
with Canadian folk music.
A very unique blend!
His influences include:
Wilf Carter, Hank Snow, Hank Williams,
Johnny Cash, Roger Miller
http://acrossthislandwith.wix.com/stompintomconnors#!slideshow/chts
Horseshoe Tavern circa 1973
He is known for many classic hits,
including "Bud The Spud" "Ben In The Pen"
"Margo's Cargo" "Sudbury Saturday Night"
"The Hockey Song" "Luke's Guitar" "The Ketchup Song"
and many more!
Stompin' Tom combines the sound of
traditional country western music,
with Canadian folk music.
A very unique blend!
His influences include:
Wilf Carter, Hank Snow, Hank Williams,
Johnny Cash, Roger Miller
From the staff at www.stompintom.com
We must regretfully announce today the passing of the Great and Patriotic Stompin' Tom Connors. He died this March 6th 201...
From the staff at www.stompintom.com
We must regretfully announce today the passing of the Great and Patriotic Stompin' Tom Connors. He died this March 6th 2013 with his Family seeing him off. His family have given us a message from Tom that he wanted passed along to all of you upon his death:
"Hello friends, I want all my fans, past, present, or future, to know that without you, there would have not been any Stompin' Tom."
"It was a long hard bumpy road, but this great country kept me inspired with it's beauty, character, and spirit, driving me to keep marching on and devoted to sing about its people and places that make Canada the greatest country in the world."
"I must now pass the torch, to all of you, to help keep the Maple Leaf flying high, and be the Patriot Canada needs now and in the future."
"I humbly thank you all, one last time, for allowing me in your homes, I hope I continue to bring a little bit of cheer into your lives from the work I have done."
Sincerely,
Your Friend always,
Stompin' Tom Connors
*********************************************
Featured in 1973's "Across This Land with Stompin' Tom Connors", with live performance filmed at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto.
The entire film can be seen on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTLlREVZvQQ
From the staff at www.stompintom.com
We must regretfully announce today the passing of the Great and Patriotic Stompin' Tom Connors. He died this March 6th 2013 with his Family seeing him off. His family have given us a message from Tom that he wanted passed along to all of you upon his death:
"Hello friends, I want all my fans, past, present, or future, to know that without you, there would have not been any Stompin' Tom."
"It was a long hard bumpy road, but this great country kept me inspired with it's beauty, character, and spirit, driving me to keep marching on and devoted to sing about its people and places that make Canada the greatest country in the world."
"I must now pass the torch, to all of you, to help keep the Maple Leaf flying high, and be the Patriot Canada needs now and in the future."
"I humbly thank you all, one last time, for allowing me in your homes, I hope I continue to bring a little bit of cheer into your lives from the work I have done."
Sincerely,
Your Friend always,
Stompin' Tom Connors
*********************************************
Featured in 1973's "Across This Land with Stompin' Tom Connors", with live performance filmed at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto.
The entire film can be seen on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTLlREVZvQQ
Provided to YouTube by Anthem Entertainment (Masters)
Big Joe Mufferaw · Stompin' Tom Connors
Stompin' Tom Meets Big Joe Mufferaw
℗ 1973 Anthem Entertainment Group
Released on: 1973-10-10
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by Anthem Entertainment (Masters)
Big Joe Mufferaw (Live At The Horseshoe) · Stompin' Tom Connors
Live At The Horseshoe
℗ 1970 Anthem Entertainment Group
Released on: 1970-07-31
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Big Joe Mufferaw was a French Canadianfolk hero from the Ottawa Valley, perhaps best known today as the hero of a song by Stompin' Tom Connors. Like Paul Bunyan, he made his living chopping down trees. The name is also sometimes spelled Muffero, Muffera, Muffraw, and Montferrand. The last spelling is more common among francophones; anglophones who had trouble with it used one of the other spellings.
In addition to being the subject of many Paul Bunyan-esque tall tales, Mufferaw is sometimes enlisted as a defender of oppressed French Canadian loggers in the days when their bosses were English-Canadians and their rivals for work were Irish-Canadians. In one story, Big Joe was in a Montreal bar, where a British army major named Jones was freely insulting French Canadians. After Big Joe beat the major, he bellowed, "Any more insults for the Canadians?"
Some Mufferaw tales take place in the northeast United States.
A real strongman, a logger in the Ottawa Valley timber trade by the name of Joseph Montferrand lived from 1802 to 1864. French Canadian writer Benjamin Sulte told this man's story in a 1975 book. He also is the subject of a chapter in Joan Finnegan's 1981 book Giants of the Ottawa Valley and her 1983 book Look! The Land Is Growing Giants. Bernie Bedore of Arnprior also wrote several books recounting Joe's adventures.
Here are a few of Stompin' Tom's best. This was recorded live at the Horseshoe Tavern in downtown Toronto, Ontario Canada. This is just a few songs from the film "Across This Land." To watch the entire film click the link below. He was a true Canadian Icon and may he rest in peace and forever sail away in the golden dory. 1936-2013
Acoss This Land
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dvtrWRTo4w
1) Sudbury Saturday Night
2) Bud the Spud
3) Luke's Guitar
4) Roll On Saskatchewan
5) The Moon-Man Newfie
6) Old Atlantic Shore
7) Goodbye Rubberhead
8) The Hockey Song
9) Big Joe Mufferaw
10) Mule Skinner Blues (I LOVE the face at 28:38)
11) My Stompin' Grounds
From the staff at www.stompintom.com
We must regretfully announce today the passing of the Great and Patriotic Stompin' Tom Connors. He died this March 6th 2013 with his Family seeing him off. His family have given us a message from Tom that he wanted passed along to all of you upon his death:
"Hello friends, I want all my fans, past, present, or future, to know that without you, there would have not been any Stompin' Tom."
"It was a long hard bumpy road, but this great country kept me inspired with it's beauty, character, and spirit, driving me to keep marching on and devoted to sing about its people and places that make Canada the greatest country in the world."
"I must now pass the torch, to all of you, to help keep the Maple Leaf flying high, and be the Patriot Canada needs now and in the future."
"I humbly thank you all, one last time, for allowing me in your homes, I hope I continue to bring a little bit of cheer into your lives from the work I have done."
Sincerely,
Your Friend always,
Stompin' Tom Connors
*********************************************
Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings and Boston Bruins footage from Maple Leaf Gardens, with brief shots of Bobby Orr and Gordie Howe.
Featured in 1973's "Across This Land with Stompin' Tom Connors", with live performance filmed at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto.
The entire film can be seen on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTLlREVZvQQ
http://acrossthislandwith.wix.com/stompintomconnors#!slideshow/chts
Horseshoe Tavern circa 1973
He is known for many classic hits,
including "Bud The Spud" "Ben In The Pen"
"Margo's Cargo" "Sudbury Saturday Night"
"The Hockey Song" "Luke's Guitar" "The Ketchup Song"
and many more!
Stompin' Tom combines the sound of
traditional country western music,
with Canadian folk music.
A very unique blend!
His influences include:
Wilf Carter, Hank Snow, Hank Williams,
Johnny Cash, Roger Miller
From the staff at www.stompintom.com
We must regretfully announce today the passing of the Great and Patriotic Stompin' Tom Connors. He died this March 6th 2013 with his Family seeing him off. His family have given us a message from Tom that he wanted passed along to all of you upon his death:
"Hello friends, I want all my fans, past, present, or future, to know that without you, there would have not been any Stompin' Tom."
"It was a long hard bumpy road, but this great country kept me inspired with it's beauty, character, and spirit, driving me to keep marching on and devoted to sing about its people and places that make Canada the greatest country in the world."
"I must now pass the torch, to all of you, to help keep the Maple Leaf flying high, and be the Patriot Canada needs now and in the future."
"I humbly thank you all, one last time, for allowing me in your homes, I hope I continue to bring a little bit of cheer into your lives from the work I have done."
Sincerely,
Your Friend always,
Stompin' Tom Connors
*********************************************
Featured in 1973's "Across This Land with Stompin' Tom Connors", with live performance filmed at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto.
The entire film can be seen on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTLlREVZvQQ
Farther down along the range Where the wise ones kept at bay Those that wish secrets stay secret, for morning mass I tell myself, It's where I belong Among the waves and the dead and gone With my ancestors drums Here comes the morning man He's gonna tell you where you stand Gonna try to undertake what's falling, he's calling you Here comes the morning man He's here and yes he can Penetrate the veils that you're holding, unfolding you Sha-la-la-la x3 This sign of a solstice bare Where autumn shows its truthful air Is when I'm vowed to empty scare the precious stars of morning prayers I tell myself it's who you are An orphan soul on a distant star Listening for those bells Here comes the morning man He's here and yes he can Penetrate the veils that you're holding, unfolding you Here comes the morning man He's gonna tell you where you stand Gonna try to undertake what's falling, he's calling you Sha-la-la-la x3 Here comes the morning man Sha-la-la-la Here comes the morning man He's watching, unfolding you Here comes the morning man