Well, the war it was over and Mister Lincoln had won.
I withdrew my navy wages and returned to my home.
Sullivan county where my Grandfather came,
Soil rocky - and the sky's always rain.
I remember grandpa's stories of when he was a kid,
Bison in the lowlands and Elk on the ridge.
Well now they're all gone and a new hunt has begun,
To find the tired dotten that make saw mills hum...
All I need is my cross cut saw.
My double bit axe and eighty trees to fall.
The spring is coming.
I can smell it all around and my soul's
Being tempted by that high water sound.
Up on the loyal sock - well, it's straight and it's tall,
There's pine up there like you ain't never saw.
Only brave loggers bare the winter's cold -
Snow falls heavy on the Appalachian fold.
Oh, up in the morning at five A.M.
Throw down some biscuits, some coffee and ham.
A twelve hour shift on the teamster's crew.
Skidding logs to the river - through the ice and snow...
All I need is my cross cut saw.
My double bit axe and eighty trees to fall.
The spring is coming.
I can smell it all around and my soul's
Being tempted by that high water sound.
We lash our logs together with hickory and oak,
No rope. No iron, just pins and bows.
A sweep at the front and back and a shack for the crew.
Twenty thousand board feet ready to tie loose.
When the ice finally breaks and the water's good and high,
We'll head down the loyal sock - our crew of five.
One day on the raft down to Montouresville.
We hit the Suskqwahanah where the water's smooth and still...
All I need is my cross cut saw.
My double bit axe and eighty trees to fall.
The spring is coming.
I can smell it all around and my soul's
Being tempted by that high water sound.
Once we get to Marietta, we sell off our logs.
One hundred dollars split by five river hogs.
We head back North, walking all the way -
One hand on your knife and the other on your pay.
Well, if it's a good season we'll have two or three more runs.
Then this year's over and the summer's begun.
I watch as the rust builds on my tools and
Long for the day I'm back with my logging crew...
All I need is my cross cut saw.
My double bit axe and eighty trees to fall.
The spring is coming.
I can smell it all around and my soul's
Being tempted by that high water sound.