LOG DRIVER'S WALTZ
Beats per bar = 3 Beat symbol = Dot (.) or equivalent |
Wade Hemsworth
( A lively waltz, composed in the 1950s after Mr. Hemsworth spent time as a surveyor in Northern Ontario, Quebec and Labrador, living in logging camps.) |
ACCORDION (BUTTON)
NOTATION |
Inside row (low) = Buttons 2 to 6 plus o3* |
Verse 1 (of 4)
"2 "2 | .2 .4 .3 | :2 "2 "2 | .o3* .4* .3* | :o3*
If you ask an - y girl from the par - ish a - round
.o3* | .2 .2* .3* | .5 .5 .5 | .5* .5 .4* | :5
What plea-ses her most from her head to her toes
.2 | .2 .4 .3 | .2 .2 .2 | .o3* .4* .3* | :o3*
She'll say I'm not sure that it's busi - ness of yours
"o3* "o3* | .2 .5 .5 | .5 .4* .3* | .4 .3 .3 |
But I do like to waltz with a log dri - ver
Refrain:
.5 .5* .6* | :6 .5 | :4 .3 | :4* .5* | .5* :4* |
For he goes bir- ling down a - down white wa - ter
.4 ;5 "5 | .5 .4* .4 | ;3* "5 .5 | .5 .5*
That's where the log dri - ver learns to step light-ly
.6* | :6 .5 | :4 .3 | :4* .5* | .5* .4*
Yes, bir - ling down a - down white wa - ter
.4* | .4 .5 .5 | .5 .4* .4 | :3* .5 | .4 .3
The log dri - ver's waltz plea - ses girls com - plete - ly
Many performers instrumentally repeat last line of chorus, and
sing the repeat of the last line of chorus after verse 4, holding final note.
"2 "2 | .2 .4 .3 | :2 "2 "2 | .o3* .4* .3* | :o3*
If you ask an - y girl from the par - ish a - round
.o3* | .2 .2* .3* | .5 .5 .5 | .5* .5 .4* | :5
What plea-ses her most from her head to her toes
.2 | .2 .4 .3 | .2 .2 .2 | .o3* .4* .3* | :o3*
She'll say I'm not sure that it's busi - ness of yours
"o3* "o3* | .2 .5 .5 | .5 .4* .3* | .4 .3 .3 |
But I do like to waltz with a log dri - ver
Refrain:
.5 .5* .6* | :6 .5 | :4 .3 | :4* .5* | .5* :4* |
For he goes bir- ling down a - down white wa - ter
.4 ;5 "5 | .5 .4* .4 | ;3* "5 .5 | .5 .5*
That's where the log dri - ver learns to step light-ly
.6* | :6 .5 | :4 .3 | :4* .5* | .5* .4*
Yes, bir - ling down a - down white wa - ter
.4* | .4 .5 .5 | .5 .4* .4 | :3* .5 | .4 .3
The log dri - ver's waltz plea - ses girls com - plete - ly
Many performers instrumentally repeat last line of chorus, and
sing the repeat of the last line of chorus after verse 4, holding final note.
Embedded youTube VIDEOS
Fifteen videos in musical keys of: C=4 D=7 G=3 G?=1
Key: D
Singers: Kate and Anna McGarrigle Music Group: Mountain City Four Posted by: NFB This animated NFB video was directed by John Weldon in 1979. |
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Key: C
Pianist: ? Producer: ? Posted by: Easy_Sheet Music_Play_ Along Instrumental covering two verses and choruses. It includes the lyrics and (fake-style) music sheet with guitar chords. The guitar notation above is based on these chords. |
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Key: D
Singer: Heathr Bambrick with the Toronoto Symphony Orchestra conducted by Lucas Waldin. Posted by: Toronto Symphony Orchestra |
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Key: G
Accordion: Poss Slaney Posted by: Newfieposs Instrumental - great job (as always), Poss. |
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Key: G
Group: The Emeralds Posted by: The Emeralds - Topic Instrumental - beautifully done! |
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Key: D
Singer: Doug Smith Posted by: Canadian Troubadour Doug Smith - Topic |
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Key: D
Singer: Jesse Ferguson Posted by: Jesse Ferguson |
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Key: G ?
Choir: Simon Fraser University (SFU) Posted by: SFU Choir Masterfully arranged and beautifully performed. Some voices sing the melody (in G, I think), others the harmony, and still others the sounds of the wilderness and river ... a rich assortment of musical sounds. |
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Key: D
Accordion: Phil Grimes Posted by: Ted Grimes Phil is a talented musician, originally from Little Bay Islands, now living in Lewisporte, NL. Instrumental. |
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Key: C
Group: The Swinging Belles Posted by: The Swinging Belles - Topic |
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Key: D
Group: Captain Tractor Posted by: davidtowns81 |
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Key: C
Choir: Lisa Warren Posted by: Lisa Warren Instrumental - beautiful but short! |
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Key: C
Singer: Ingo Neill-St. Clair Posted by: Ingo Neill-St. Clair |
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Key: D
Group: Blackthorn Posted by: Foighidinn A Celtic band from Vancouver, BC. They have included a Celtic-sounding instrumental insert, not part of the original song. |
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Key: G
Performer: Susanna Heerstek (at age 12) Posted by: KLONKIE The Log Divers' Waltz ends at time 1:40 and is followed by a different tune. |
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Background Materials, Information & Links
Lyrics:
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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 a - down white water That's where the log driver learns to step lightly Yes, birling down a - 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 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 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 |
Background and Links:
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According to Wikipedia, Wade Hemsworth was stationed in Newfoundland for a time during World War II, and it was there that he discovered and developed an interest in traditional music. Several of his songs have become Canadian folk classics. Click HERE for additional (wikipedia) info about Mr. Hemsworth.
When I first heard this song many years ago I thought that birling was a corruption of barreling, which has a similar sound if spoken quickly. As well, the dictionary gives one of its definitions of "barrel" as an intransitive verb, meaning "to drive or move in a way that is so fast as to be almost out of control", like the logs barreling down through the river's white water. However, Wikipedia suggests that birling is a word in its own right, perhaps from the old Scottish "birl" meaning "to spin or revolve". (For those who look for double entendres in songs, even if originally unintended, it can also mean "carouse"). Click HERE for a link to the National Film Board of Canada, whose short film (see first youTube video above) helped popularize this tune. |