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Wade
Hemsworth, the author of this song, also wrote “The
Black Fly” song and “Log Driver’s Waltz,”
which you’ve probably heard. He went into the bush at
the end of the Depression as a member of a survey crew, earning
money for his education and his start in life. The experience
marked him. He was enormously taken with what he saw.
I believe Wild Goose was his first song about the north. I’ve
been up there on the Pukaskwa River, where it flows down into
Lake Superior, and I can tell you that he captured it very
very well. It sure captured me.
Wade is getting on a bit now, but he gave me permission to
cover this song, and I was proud to do so. If ever anyone
danced to the Wilderness Waltz, it was he.
Am Am
Am
Am
D7 Am
On Pukaskwa river so early this morning,
D7
Am
While mending my tumpline I hear the geese calling.
F
Over the brule, long clamoring cry,
F
C
Flying formation against the grey sky
Am
Comes the wild goose,
G7
Am
The wild goose,
G7
F
High over the north shore
E7
Am Dm
Am
Dm
And I’m going home.
The river
is open but the lake’s frozen over;
It’s time to pack out when so late in October.
Winter’s a-coming, the wild geese know,
We’ve had a long fall and its time to go
With the
wild goose,
The wild goose,
High over the north shore
And I’m going home.
I’ve
made lots of money, got money to burn
And when I have spent it I know I’ll return
After the freeze-up, when snow is dry,
For to work in the tall woods - I wish that I
With the
wild goose,
The wild goose,
High over the north shore
And I’m going home.
I’ve
worked in the bush and spent money in town;
I’d like to get married but I can’t settle down.
At the last portage, when I’ll pack no more
Let me fly with the wild goose high over north shore
With the
wild goose,
The wild goose,
High over the north shore
And I’m going home.
©1962 Wade Hemsworth |
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