Digital Tradition Mirror

The Badger Drive

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Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

The Badger Drive

1.  There is one class of men in this country
    That never is mentioned in song
    And now since their trade is advancing,
    They'll come out on top before long.
    They say that our sailors have danger
    And likewise our warriors bold,
    But there's none know the life of a driver
    What he suffers in hardship and cold.

Chorus
    With their pike-poles and peavies and bateaus and all
    And they're sure to drive out in the spring, that's the time
    With their caulks in their boots as they get on the logs
    And it's hard to get over their time.

2.  Billy Dorothy he is the manager
    And he's a good man at the trade
    And when he's around seeking drivers
    He's like a train going downgrade
    But still he's a man that's kindhearted
    On his word you can always depend
    And there's never a man that works with him
    But likes to go with him again.

3.  I tell you today, home in London,
    The Times it is read by each man,
    But little they think of the fellows
    The drove the wood on Mary Ann.
    For paper is made out of pulpwood
    And many things more you may know
    And long may our men live to drive it
    Upon Paymeoch and Tomjoe.

4.  The drive it is just below Badger
    And everything is working grand
    With a jolly good crew of picked drivers
    And Ronald Kelley in command.
    For Ronald is boss on the river
    And I tell you he's a man that's alive
    He drove the wood off Victoria
    Now he's out on the main river drive.

5.  So now to conclude and to finish
    I hope that ye all will agree
    In wishing success to all [old?] Badger
    And the A.N.D. Company
    And long may they live for to flourish
    And continue to chop, drive and roll,
    And long may the business be managed
    By Mr. Dorothy and Mr. Cole.

written by John Devine; rec. Alan Mills, "Folk Songs of Newfoundland"
JB
                                                 apr96

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!