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