1. Gerry’s Rocks: C F C G C Come all you true born shantyboys, wherever you may be Am C F G Come sit ye on the deacon seat and listen unto me Am C F G I’ll sing the song of Gerry’s rocks, and a hero you should know C F C G C The bravest of all shantyboys – our foreman young Monroe C F C G C It happened on a Sunday morn as you shall quickly hear Am C F G Our logs were piling mountains high we could not keep them clear Am C F G Our boss he cried “Turn out brave boys, and void your hearts of fear C F C G C We’ll break that jam on Gerry’s rocks and for Agonstown we’ll steer.” C F C G C Some of those boys were willing but some others hid from sight Am C F G For work upon the Sabbath day they did not think was right Am C F G But six of our Canadian boys did volunteer to go C F C G C And break the jam on Gerry’s rocks with our foreman young Monroe C F C G C They had not rolled off many logs, when Monroe to them did say Am C F G I must send you up the drive my boys, for the jam will soon give way Am C F G Alone he freed the key log then and when the jam did go C F C G C It carried on the boiling flood our foreman young Monroe. C F C G C When the camp of shantyboys these tidings came to hear Am C F G In search of their young foreman down the river they did steer Am C F G Where there they found to their surprise, their sorrow, grief, and woe C F C G C All bruised and mangled on the beach, the corpse of young Monroe C F C G C They picked him up most tenderly and smoothed his raven hair Am C F G There was one fair form among them whose cries did rend the air Am C F G The fairest lass of Saginaw let tears of anguish flow C F C G C But her mourns and cries could not awake her true love young Monroe C F C G C Fair Clara was a noble girl, the riverman’s true friend Am C F G She and her widowed mother dear lived at the river’s end Am C F G The wages of her own true love the boss to her did pay C F C G C And a gift of gold was sent to her by the shantyboys next day C F C G C They buried him in sorrow deep, it was on the first of May Am C F G Now come you tender shantyboys and for your comrade pray Am C F G Engraved upon a hemlock tree where by the beach does grow C F C G C Is the name and date of the mournful fate of our foreman young Monroe C F C G C Fair Clara did not long survive, her heart broke in the grief Am C F G And scarcely two months afterward there came to her relief Am C F G When the time had passed away and she was called to go C F C G C Her last request was granted her, to be laid by young Monroe C F C G C Come all of you bold shantyboys, i would have you come and see Am C F G The two green mounds by riverside where grows a hemlock tree Am C F G The shantyboys cleared out the wood and there the loves laid low C F C G C The handsome Clara Vernon and her true love Jack Monroe

G C D G A is for axes we swing to and fro, C G B is the boys who can handle them so, G D Em D C is for cant hooks, the logs we make spin, G D C G And D is the danger that we’re always in. Chorus (between each verse): G C D G Sing hi-derry oh, so merry are we, C G We are the boys when we’re out on a spree, G D Em D Sing hi-derry oh, and hi-derry down, G D C G Give the lumberjacks whiskey and nothing goes wrong. G C D G E is for echo which through the woods ring, and C G F is the foreman that pushes our gang, G D Em D G is for grindingstone, swiftly it moves, and G D C G H is the handle so slick and so smooth. G C D G I is the iron to mark all the pine, C G J is the jobber who’s never on time, G D Em D K is keen edges our axes to keep, and G D C G L is the lice that keep us all from sleep. G C D G M is for money, which everyone owes, C G N is the needle that patches our clothes, G D Em D O is for oxen the road we swung through, and G D C G P is for Peerless which everyone chews. G C D G Q is for quarrels we never allow, C G R is for river our logs they do plow, G D Em D S is for sleigh so stout and so strong, and G D C G T is the teams that will haul them along. G C D G U is for use which we put ourselves to, C G V is the valley we tramp it right through, G D Em D W is women when we’re down in the spring, and G D C G Triple-x beer is the best beer to drink!

G Am C G There walked on Plover's shady bank one evening last July G C G C A mother of a shanty-boy, and doleful was her cry, G C G C Saying, "God be with you, Johnnie, although you're far away, G Am C G Driving saw-logs on the Plover, oh you'll never get your pay. G Am C G "Oh, John, I gave you schooling, and I gave you trade likewise. G C G C You need not been a shanty-boy, had you taken my advice. G C G C You need not gone from your dear home to the forest far away, G Am C G To drive saw-logs on the Plover, and to never get your pay. G Am C G "Oh John you were your father's hope, your mother's only joy. G C G C Why is it that you ramble so, my own, my darling boy? G C G C What could induce you, Johnnie, from your own dear home to stray, G Am C G Driving saw-logs on the Plover, no you'll never get your pay. G Am C G "Why didn't you stay upon the farm and feed the ducks and hens, G C G C And drive the pigs and sheep each night and put them in their pens? G C G C Far better for you to help your dad to cut his corn and hay G Am C G Than to drive saw-logs on the Plover and to never get your pay." G Am C G A log canoe came floating adown the quiet stream. G C G C As peacefully it glided as some young lover's dream. G C G C A youth crept out upon the bank and thus to her did say, G Am C G "Dear mother, I have jumped the game and I haven't got my pay. G Am C G "The boys called me a sucker and a son-of-a-gun to boot. G C G C I said to myself, 'O Johnnie, it’s time for you to scoot.' G C G C I stole a canoe and I started upon my weary way, G Am C G And now I have got home again but nary a cent of pay." G Am C G Now all young men take this advice: if e'er you wish to roam, G C G C Be sure and kiss your mothers before you leave your home. G C G C You had better work upon a farm for a half a dollar a day G Am C G Than to drive saw-logs on the Plover, no you’ll never get your pay.

C Am Oh a raftsman’s life is a wearisome one Em G It causes many fair maids to weep and mourn C Am It causes them to weep and mourn Em G For the loss of a true love that can never return C Am “Oh father father, build me a boat Em G that down the Wisconsin i may float C Am and every raft that i pass by Em G i’ll inquire for my sweet pinery boy C Am as she was rowing down the stream Em G she saw three rafts all in a string C Am she hailed the pilot as they drew nigh Em G and there she inquired for her pinery boy C Am oh pilot pilot tell me true Em G is my sweet William among your crew? C Am Oh tell me quick and give me joy Em G For none other will i have but my pinery boy C Am Oh auburn was the color of his hair Em G His eyes were blue and his cheeks were fair C Am His lips were of a ruby fine Em G Ten thousand times they’ve met with mine C Am Oh honored lady he is not here Em G He’s drowned and lost in the dells i fear C Am ‘Twas at lone rock as we passed by Em G Oh there is where we left your pinery boy C Am She wrung her hands and she tore her hair Em G Just like a lady in great despair C Am She rowed her boat against lone rock Em G You’d a thought that this lady’s heart was broke C Am Oh dig me a grave both long and deep Em G Place a marble slab at my head and feet C Am And on my breast a turtle dove Em G To let the world know that i died for love C Am And at my feet a spreading oak Em G To let the world know that my heart was broke

G Em I’ve been around the world a bit, and seen beasts great and small D C G the one I mean to tell about for daring beats them all G Em He leaves the woods with bristles raised the full length of his back D C D G He’s known by men of science as the festive lumberjack Chorus (between each verse): G C He’s a wild rip-snorting devil every time he comes to town D He’s a porky, he’s a moose-cat, too busy to set down. G C But when his silver’s registered and his drinks is coming few, D C D G He’s then as tame as other jacks that’s met their Waterloo G Em While out in camp he’s very wise, he’ll tell you of his plans D C G He’s figured out and knows he’ll beat the long white-aproned man, G Em He means to cut out drinking booze and climb right up in fame D C D G And within a year of time will own a handsome little claim. G Em He’ll go down to the city with his time-check in his hand D C G He’s as busy as a bed bug, for an instant couldn’t stand G Em Until he gets his silver, which will vanish soon from sight D C D G For he intends to log a bit and he will do it right G Em One dozen drinks of whiskey straight and the jack feels pretty fair D C G The heavy logging then begins, but he’s logging with hot air G Em His peakers rise above the clouds; the cross-haul man below D C D G Works by a code for they could not hear his mighty ‘Whoa!’ G Em Every jack’s a cant-hook man; no others can be found. D C G They do some heavy logging but they do it best in town G Em They’re loved by all the pretty girls who at their feet would kneel D C D G If they could win that darling chap that birls the crooked steel G Em But here’s a proposition boys, when next we meet in town, D C G We’ll form a combination and we’ll mow the forest down G Em We then will cash our handsome checks, we’ll neither eat nor sleep D C D G Nor will we buy a stitch of clothes while whiskey is so cheap!

Dm F Am The lumberjack upon his raft is like a water-bird Am F Dm Huh and Hei and so we sing, is like a water-bird Dm F Am High boots on his feet and leather straps upon his legs Am F Dm Huh and Hei, and so we sing, straps upon his legs Dm F Am And he doesn’t have to be a manor-farmer’s thrall Am F Dm Huh and Hei and so we sing, a manor-farmer’s thrall Dm F Am The lumberjack up on his raft, is like a great lord Am F Dm Huh and Hei and so we sing, is like a great lord Dm F Am A gold watch in his pocket and a five-length chain for it Am F Dm Huh and Hei, and so we sing, a five-length chain for it

Em Am Em Come all young men a-wanting of courage bold undaunted Em Am Bm Em Repair unto the shanties before your youth’s decline Em Am Em Am The spectators they will ponder and gaze on you with wonder Em Bm Am Em For your noise exceeds the thunder in the falling of the pine Em Am Em The shanty is our station, lumber our occupation Em Am Bm Em Where each man has his station, some for to score and line Em Am Em Am It ‘s nine foot of a block, we will bust at every knock Em Bm Am Em And the wolves and bears we’ll shock, at the falling of the pine Em Am Em When day it is a-breaking, from slumbers we’re awakened Em Am Bm Em Breakfast being over, our axes we will grind Em Am Em Am Into the woods advance where our axes sharp do glance Em Bm Am Em And like brothers we commence for to fall the stately pine Em Am Em It’s to our work we go, through the cold and stormy snow, Em Am Bm Em And it’s there we labor gaily until Phoebus bright don’t shine Em Am Em Am Then to the shanties we’ll go in, and songs of love we’ll sing Em Bm Am Em And we’ll make the valleys ring at the falling of the pine Em Am Em When the weather it grows colder, like lions we’re more bolder Em Am Bm Em And while this is grief for others, it’s but the least of mine Em Am Em Am For the frost and snow so keen, it can never keep us in Em Bm Am Em It can never keep us in from the falling of the pine Em Am Em When the snow is all diminished and our shanty work all finished Em Am Bm Em Banished we all are for a little time Em Am Em Am And then far apart we’re scattered until the booms are gathered Em Bm Am Em Until the booms are gathered into handsome rafts of pine Em Am Em When we get to Quebec, oh me boys, we’ll not forget Em Am Bm Em And our whistles we will wet, with some brandy and good wine Em Am Em Am With fair maidens we’ll carouse, until our money’s used Em Bm Am Em And we never will refuse, to go back and fall the pine.

C G 50,000 lumberjacks, fifty thousand packs G C 50,000 dirty rolls of blankets on their backs C G 50,000 minds made up to strike and strike like men G C For fifty years they've packed a bed, but never will again C G "Such a lot of devils", that's what the papers say, G C "They've gone on strike for shorter hours and a raise in pay: C G They left the camps, the lazy tramps, they all walked out as one; G C They say they'll win the strike or put the bosses on the bum." C G 50,000 wooden bunks full of things that crawl; G C 50,000 restless men have left them once for all C G One by one they dared not say "The hours are much too long." G C But they could shout it now because they're 50,000 strong C G "Such a lot of devils", that's what the papers say, G C "They've gone on strike for shorter hours and a raise in pay: C G They left the camps, the lazy tramps, they all walked out as one; G C They say they'll win the strike or put the bosses on the bum." C G Now take a tip, miss the boss; plan some cozy rooms G C Six or eight spring beds in each, with towels, sheets, and brooms C G Shower baths for men who work will keep them well and fit G C A laundry, too, and drying room would help a little bit C G And get some dishes white and clean, good pure food to eat G C See that cook has help enough to keep the table neat C G Tap the bell for eight hours' work, treat the boys like men G C And 50,000 lumberjacks may come to work again C G "Such a lot of devils" -- that's what the papers say -- G C "We've gone on strike for shorter hours and a raise in pay: C G We left the camps, the dirty camps, we all walked out as one; G C We know we’ll win the strike and put the bosses on the bum."

G Em ‘Twas on a cold and frosty morning, when the sunshine was adorning C G D C G The boughs of ev’ry lofty pine, making them in radiance shine. G Em Through the forest lone I wandered, where a little brook meandered, C G D C G Gurgling over the rocks below, wading deep through ice and snow. G Em On its banks and right before me, stood a pine in stately glory. C G D C G The forest king he seemed to be, he was a noble big pine tree. G Em I gazed upon his form gigantic, thoughts ran through my head romantic, C G D C G These were my musings as I stood and viewed that monarch of the wood: G Em For ages you have towered proudly, the birds have praised you long and loudly C G D C G The squirrels have chattered prayers to thee, O ye noble Big Pine Tree. G Em When the lumberjacks first spy you, they’ll step up to you and eye you. C G D C G With saw and axe they’ll lay you down, On the cold snow-covered ground. G Em Your fall will sound like distant thunder, and fill the birds and squirrels with wonder. C G D C G The snow thy winding-sheet will be, O ye noble Big Pine Tree. G Em Were you punky, were you hollow, you’d have been a lucky fellow; C G D C G Then they would have let you be, O ye noble Big Pine Tree. G Em But seeing you’re so sound and healthy, you’ll make some lumberman more wealthy. C G D C G There’s scads of wealth concealed in thee, O ye noble Big Pine Tree. G Em They will measure, top, and butt you. Into saw-logs they will cut you. C G D C G The woodsman’s chains will fetter thee, O ye noble Big Pine Tree. G Em When your branches cease to quiver, they will haul you to the river, C G D C G And down the roll-ways roll you in, where you’ll have to sink or swim. G Em In spring the agile river-driver will pick and punch you down the river C G D C G There’ll be little rest for thee, O ye noble Big Pine Tree. G Em Up the mill-slide they will draw you. Into lumber they will saw you. C G D C G Then they’ll put you in a pile, Where at last you’ll rest awhile. G Em In spring, when gentle showers are falling, and the toads and birds are squalling, C G D C G They will take and raft you in, where once more you’ll have to swim. G Em Over dams and falls they’ll take you, where the rocks will tear and break you, C G D C G The Mississippi will hold you then, before they’ll let you rest again G Em Then they’ll sell you to some farmer, to keep his wife and children warmer. C G D C G With his team he’ll haul you home, to the prairie drear and lone. G Em Into a prairie house he’ll make you, where the prairie winds will shake you. C G D C G There’ll be little rest for thee, O ye noble Big Pine Tree. G Em The prairie winds will sing around you. The hail and sleet and snow will pound you, C G D C G And shake and wear and bleach your bones On the prairie drear and lone. G Em Then the prairie fires will burn you. Into ashes they will turn you. C G D C G That will be the end of thee, O ye noble Big Pine Tree.