Men of the Bay

From England's West Country
And Ireland's many counties
Working hard there were those who starved when nature proved unkind
No slaves nor servants with them
Children, men and women
Sharing the loads on common roads to service of mankind

So let's sing of the forests
And the men that came before us
With an iron will, they worked until
Their work on earth was done
So let's sing of the Saunders, the Sweetapples and Arnolds
The toils of men which never end
Get passed onto their sons

My grandfather died early
There was never one more surely
Guaranteed eternity, he was given onto God
He kept his family healthy
Like most they were not wealthy
And though they'd seen adversity, they smiled through all odds

So let's sing of the steam mills
The lumber and the steel
The logs they brang, the blades that rang
Our song is yet unsung
And let's sing of the Burrys, the Smarts, the Strouds and the Perrys
Persistence stood with water and wood
And a heritage was won

So let's sing of the schooners
And the skiffs that hauled the booms
Our boats relied on wind and tide
Their trust in stars and sun
And let's sing of their courage, knowledge and endurance
Of the ways of men let's sing and then
Let's share it with our sons
Of the ways of men let's sing and then
Let's share it with our sons