C G
Oh, a shanty-man's life is a wearisome life,
Am G Am
although some think it void of care
C G
Swinging an ax from morning till night
Am G Am
in the midst of the forests so drear.
C Am
Lying in the shanty bleak
C Am
and cold while the cold stormy wintry winds blow,
D Am D C Am G Am
And as soon as the daylight doth appear, to the wild woods we must go.
C G
Oh, the cook rises up in the middle of the night saying,
Am G Am
“Hurrah, brave boys, it's day."
C G
Broken slumbers ofttimes are passed
Am G Am
as the cold winter night whiles away.
C Am
Had we rum, wine or beer our spirits
C Am
for to cheer in days so lonely do dwine,
and cold while the cold stormy wintry winds blow,
D Am D C Am G Am
Or a glass of any shone while in the woods alone for to cheer up our troubled minds.
C G
But when spring it does set in, double hardships begin,
Am G Am
when the waters are piercing cold,
C G
And our clothes are dripping wet and fingers benumbed,
Am G Am
and our pike-poles we scarcely can hold.
C Am
Betwixt rocks, shoals and sands
C Am
give employment to all hands our well-banded raft for to steer,
and cold while the cold stormy wintry winds blow,
D Am D C Am G Am
And the rapids that we run, oh, they seem to us but fun, for we're void of all slavish fear.
C G
Oh, a shanty lad is the only lad I love,
Am G Am
and I never will deny the same.
C G
My heart doth scorn these conceited farmer boys
Am G Am
who think it a disgraceful name.
C Am
They may boast about their farms,
C Am
but my shanty-boy has charms so far, far surpassing them all,
D Am D C Am G Am
Until death it doth us part he shall enjoy my heart, let his riches be great or small.