MAULING LIVE OAK



One day I was traveling - I happened to

think,

"My pockets are empty, I can't buy a drink.

I am an old bummer, completely dead broke,

And there's nothing to do but go mauling

live oak."



cho: Derry down, down, down, derry down.



Well, I went right away for to see Captain

Swift

To see and find out could he give me a lift.

He looked me all over from top unto toe.

Said he "You're the boy that live-oaking

must go "



Then he brought out the contract that both

of us signed

To keep and secure if we both were inclined.

But the very best wages that he could afford

'Twas only five dollars a month and my board



Well I had to get ready without much delay,

For the schooner was sailing the very next

day

With two pints of whiskey, a pipe and a spoon

Away we set sail for Mosquito Lagoon.



Now, bluff was the game that we played every

night,

And in it Charles Douglass he took great

delight.

He won my tobacco, while others cracked jokes

He said, "You'll get more when you're mauling

live oak."



Now, mauling this live oak, I'll say it's

great fun,

Especially the dry ones that makes the sweat

run.

It'll make your axe handles to glimmer and

smoke -

You need iron handles for mauling live oak.



It's mosquitoes by day, and it's midges by

night.

The sand fleas and bedbugs, they bother me

quite,

And if ever back home my head I do poke,

To Hell I'll kick Swift and his goddam

live oak.





From Minstrelsy of Maine, via Tom McHenry who blended three

versions.

Recorded by the Boarding Party, Folk Legacy

@logging @work @bitching

filename[ MAULOAK

RG

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