Headwaters
by Tyler Dezago
From the headwaters of the Hudson
Below the Indian
Round the bend at Blue Ledges
The logs are rolling in
I was born on the banks
Of a river of sand and stone
My kinsman worked for a better life
From the woods to the shore
Those unforgiving waters
I’ve seen many a man
Their life and loves left behind
Taken at the rivers hand
Roll on, my brothers, roll on
Ride the waters to the East Branch, roll on
And when I collect my pay, send the most to my baby,
Drink the rest to that river, the dead and gone
Was my first winter as an axeman
My brother drove the team
Stacking white pine, spruce and balsam
On the ice of Lake Thirteen.
On that first warm week in April
we left that crooked road
Hung the axe and kissed our families
Down the river we go
Roll on, my brothers, roll on
Ride the waters to the East Branch, roll on
And when I collect my pay, send the most to my baby,
Drink the rest to that river, the dead and gone
We broke the splash dam in the morning
That spring melt’s running fast
Churns the depths of deepest pools
Spitting logs from seasons past
And with brads on our boot soles
A tall pike in the hand
I run frozen logs
To the head of the jam
I called out to my brother
I’m too weak to pry it loose
Against the will of the water
Then the river lunged at us
I fell back on the icy bank
He still had his hold
Then the jam gave out and swept him down
He was 25 years old
Roll on, my brothers, roll on
Ride the waters to the East Branch, roll on
And when I collect my pay, send the most to my baby,
Drink the rest to that river, the dead and gone
His wife he made a widow
We never found his bones
I believe he never left here
For I ever feel his soul
Now the foreman, I still work the woods
I sing his shanty song
For this mighty Hudson swept away
My brother dead and gone
Roll on, my brothers, roll on
Ride the waters to the East Branch, roll on
And when I collect my pay, send the most to my baby,
Drink the rest to that river, the dead and gone
We drink the rest to my brother, dead and gone.
A COUPLE MORE
by Tyler Dezago
Can’t we just sing a couple more before the lights go out
Show me that one chord before I lay my head down
In the morning after coffee we’ll pick up right where we left off
But for now, let’s just sing a couple more
Don’t I love it when you pick up your old six string box
And we sit back in the Adirondack chairs
And pick out an old tune just like the ones we used to do
Mama sure does love to hear you play
You been busy on the road, it runs you ragged
Sometimes you think you might just hang it up
Ain’t no other way of living, for the gift that you’ve been given
Is meant to be shared with everyone
Can’t we just sing a couple more before the lights go out
Show me that one chord before I lay my head down
In the morning after coffee we’ll pick up right where we left off
But for now, let’s just sing a couple more
Remember the rain pouring down on our easy up
Sardines all packed in tight
Fiddle and guitar and amber in a mason jar
Fuels the buzzin’ hum till morning light
I wish that I could hold this moment forever
Keep it on repeat in my mind
But those days come and go,
turn to weeks and months before you know
It’s a feeling we work hard to keep alive
Can’t we just sing a couple more before the lights go out
Show me that one chord before I lay my head down
In the morning after coffee we’ll pick up right where we left off
But for now, let’s just sing a couple more