The Logdriver's Waltz - Michael Kelly - (Albert Wade Hemsworth cover)

Written by the late Canadian surveyor and folk singer, Albert Wade Hemsworth, this song celebrates the profession of log driving. In the lumber industry, this was the practice of walking or running along logs to direct them as they floated downriver, transporting them from the cut site to another location (such as a lumber mill). The job required tremendous strength and balance, and could be quite dangerous.
One lyric in the chorus is often misheard as 'hurling' or 'whirling'. The actual word is 'birling', which is an old Scots word that means 'to revolve' or 'to cause to revolve'. In the context of the song, it's talking about spinning the logs around by walking on them.
Anyone who grew up in Canada watching the CBC during my generation will most likely recognize this song immediately, as it was the soundtrack for an animated short that was often played on TV. It's such an iconic piece of Canadiana, that after I recorded this cover of the song, I decided to use it to kick off a month of Canadian-themed content here on the channel.
While I only captured video for the main guitar/vocal track, the finished audio contains 3 additional harmony tracks, as well as 2 additional guitar tracks.
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"THE LOGDRIVER'S WALTZ" - Written by Wade Hemsworth
If you ask any girl from the parish around
What pleases her most from her head to her toes
She'll say I'm not sure that it's business of yours
But I do like to waltz with a log driver
[Chorus:]
For he goes birling down and down white water
That's where the log driver learns to step lightly
Yes, birling down and down white water
The log driver's waltz pleases girls completely
When the drive's nearly over I like to go down
And watch all the lads as they work on the river
I know that come evening they'll be in the town
And we all like to waltz with a log driver
[Chorus]
To please both my parents, I've had to give way
And dance with the doctors and merchants and lawyers
Their manners are fine, but their feet are of clay
And there's none with the style of my log driver
[Chorus]
Now I've had my chances with all sorts of men
But none as so fine as my lad on the river
So when the drive's over, if he asks me again
I think I will marry my log driver
[Chorusx2]
The log driver's waltz pleases girls completely

[@BardMichaelKelly]

Update for folks interested in the MP3 - Just added it to the Shop page over on my Patreon. Here's the Shop link:
www.patreon.com/MichaelKelly/shop
Or for a link that takes you directly to the song so you don't have to search around for it:
www.patreon.com/MichaelKelly/shop/logdrivers-waltz-wade-hemsworth-cover-23715?source=storefront
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If you're interested in multiple songs and want to save money, I also have MP3's available bundled into 5-song EP's for about 30% off.
Also, be sure to buy directly through the Patreon store page, rather than through iOS. Apple charges you up to 50% more for using the app, and NONE of that extra cost goes to the artist.

[@knightreynellofthewoods]

I love this so much I can’t describe it it’s too perfect for me. If bard Michael Kelly ever sells this song I’m buying it 😃👍

[@BardMichaelKelly]

It's been a while, but I just put up the MP3 of this song for sale on my Patreon Commerce page.
www.patreon.com/MichaelKelly/shop

[@acethekid5375]

awesome harmonies and tone, love it.. cheers

[@jeremypaluck4246]

Well done!