The Badger Drive
by John V. Devine, 1873 - 1929
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.
CHORUS:
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’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.
CHORUS:
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.
CHORUS:
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.
CHORUS:
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.
CHORUS:
Read more about this song at the Musical Map of Newfoundland and Labrador, https://musicalmapnl.ca/song/165