The Badger Drive

(album: For The Family - 1983)

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 with hardship and cold

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

Bill Dorothey 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 down grade
But still he is 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

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

I tell you today home in London, The Times it is read by each man
But little they think of the fellows that 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

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

The drive it is just below Badger, and everything is working grand
With a jolly good crew of picked drivers and Ronald Kelly 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

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

So now to conclude and to finish, I hope that ye all will agree
In wishing success to all 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. Dorothey and Mr. Cole

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