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The Black Fly Song

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Capo five
[Verse 1]
  C'Twas early in the spring when I decided to go
For to Amwork up in the woods in North OnEmtar-i-o
And the Cunemployment office said they'd send me through
To the AmLittle Abitibi with the Emsurvey crew
[Chorus]
And the Amblackflies, the little blackflies
CAlways the blackfly, no matter where you go
I'll Dmdie with the blackfly picking my bones
In North Ontar-i-Co-i-o
In North OnEmtar-i-Amo
C/B  C
[Verse 2]
The Cman Black Toby was the captain of the crew
And he Amsaid, "I'm gonna tell you boys Emwhat we're gonna do.”
“They Cwant to build a power dam and we must find a way
“For to Ammake the little Ab flow arEmound the other way"
[Chorus]
With the Amblackflies, the little blackflies
CAlways the blackfly, no matter where you go
I'll Dmdie with the blackfly picking my bones
In North Ontar-i-Co-i-o
In North OnEmtar-i-Amo
C/B  C
[Verse 3]
So we Csurveyed to the east and we surveyed to the west
And we Amcouldn't make our minds up Emhow to do it best
Little CAb, little Ab, what shall I do?
For I'm Amall but goin' crazy with the Emsurvey crew
[Chorus]
And the Amblackflies, the little blackflies
CAlways the blackfly, no matter where you go
I'll Dmdie with the blackfly picking my bones
In North Ontar-i-Co-i-o
In North OnEmtar-i-Amo
C/B  C
[Verse 4]
'Twas Cblackfly, blackfly everywhere
A-Amcrawlin' in your whiskers, a-Emcrawlin' in your hair
CSwimmin' in the soup, and swimmin in the tea
The AmDevil take the blackfly, Emlet me be
[Chorus]
(AmBlackfly, little blackfly)
CAlways the blackfly, no matter where you go
I'll Dmdie with the blackfly picking my bones
In North Ontar-i-Co-i-o
In North OnEmtar-i-Amo
C/B  C
[Interlude]
C  C  Am Em
C  C  Am Em
(AmBlackfly, little blackfly)
C/B  C
[Verse 5]
Black CToby fell to swearin', the work went slow
And the Amstate of our morale was a-Emgettin' pretty low
And the Cflies swarmed heavy, it was hard to catch a breath
As you Amstaggered up and down the trail Emtalkin' to yourself
[Chorus]
With the Amblackflies, the little blackflies
CAlways the blackfly, no matter where you go
I'll Dmdie with the blackfly picking my bones
In North Ontar-i-Co-i-o
In North OnEmtar-i-Amo
C/B  C
[Verse 6]
Well, now the Cbull cook's name was Blind River Joe
If it Amhadn't been for him we'd have Emnever pulled through
For he Cbound up our bruises, and he kidded us for fun
And he Amlathered us with bacon grease and Embalsam gum
[Chorus]
For the Amblackflies, the little blackflies
CAlways the blackfly, no matter where you go
I'll Dmdie with the blackfly picking my bones
In North Ontar-i-Co-i-o
In North OnEmtar-i-Amo
C/B  C
[Verse 7]
At Clast the job was over, Black Toby said “We're through
“With the AmLittle Abitibi and the Emsurvey crew.”
'Twas a Cwonderful experience and this I know
I'll Amnever go again to North OnEmtar-i-o
[Chorus]
With the Amblackflies, the little blackflies
CAlways the blackfly, no matter where you go
I'll Dmdie with the blackfly picking my bones
In North Ontar-i-Co-i-o
In North OnEmtar-i-Amo
[Chorus]
And the Amblackflies, the little blackflies
CAlways the blackfly, no matter where you go
I'll Dmdie with the blackfly picking my bones
In North Ontar-i-Co-i-o
In North OnEmtar-i-Amo

All chords in this song (5)

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The Black Fly Song

by Wade Hemsworth

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 5 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

C/B

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Capo five

[Verse 1]

'Twas early in the spring when I decided to go

Am Em

For to work up in the woods in North Ontar-i-o

And the unemployment office said they'd send me through

Am Em

To the Little Abitibi with the survey crew

[Chorus]

And the blackflies, the little blackflies

Always the blackfly, no matter where you go

I'll die with the blackfly picking my bones

In North Ontar-i-o-i-o

Em Am

In North Ontar-i-o

C/B C

[Verse 2]

The man Black Toby was the captain of the crew

Am Em

And he said, "I'm gonna tell you boys what we're gonna do.”

“They want to build a power dam and we must find a way

Am Em

“For to make the little Ab flow around the other way"

[Chorus]

With the blackflies, the little blackflies

Always the blackfly, no matter where you go

I'll die with the blackfly picking my bones

In North Ontar-i-o-i-o

Em Am

In North Ontar-i-o

C/B C

[Verse 3]

So we surveyed to the east and we surveyed to the west

Am Em

And we couldn't make our minds up how to do it best

Little Ab, little Ab, what shall I do?

Am Em

For I'm all but goin' crazy with the survey crew

[Chorus]

And the blackflies, the little blackflies

Always the blackfly, no matter where you go

I'll die with the blackfly picking my bones

In North Ontar-i-o-i-o

Em Am

In North Ontar-i-o

C/B C

[Verse 4]

'Twas blackfly, blackfly everywhere

Am Em

A-crawlin' in your whiskers, a-crawlin' in your hair

Swimmin' in the soup, and swimmin in the tea

Am Em

The Devil take the blackfly, let me be

[Chorus]

(Blackfly, little blackfly)

Always the blackfly, no matter where you go

I'll die with the blackfly picking my bones

In North Ontar-i-o-i-o

Em Am

In North Ontar-i-o

C/B C

[Interlude]

C C Am Em

(Blackfly, little blackfly)

C/B C

[Verse 5]

Black Toby fell to swearin', the work went slow

Am Em

And the state of our morale was a-gettin' pretty low

And the flies swarmed heavy, it was hard to catch a breath

Am Em

As you staggered up and down the trail talkin' to yourself

[Chorus]

With the blackflies, the little blackflies

Always the blackfly, no matter where you go

I'll die with the blackfly picking my bones

In North Ontar-i-o-i-o

Em Am

In North Ontar-i-o

C/B C

[Verse 6]

Well, now the bull cook's name was Blind River Joe

Am Em

If it hadn't been for him we'd have never pulled through

For he bound up our bruises, and he kidded us for fun

Am Em

And he lathered us with bacon grease and balsam gum

[Chorus]

For the blackflies, the little blackflies

Always the blackfly, no matter where you go

I'll die with the blackfly picking my bones

In North Ontar-i-o-i-o

Em Am

In North Ontar-i-o

C/B C

[Verse 7]

At last the job was over, Black Toby said “We're through

Am Em

“With the Little Abitibi and the survey crew.”

'Twas a wonderful experience and this I know

Am Em

I'll never go again to North Ontar-i-o

[Chorus]

With the blackflies, the little blackflies

Always the blackfly, no matter where you go

I'll die with the blackfly picking my bones

In North Ontar-i-o-i-o

Em Am

In North Ontar-i-o

[Chorus]

And the blackflies, the little blackflies

Always the blackfly, no matter where you go

I'll die with the blackfly picking my bones

In North Ontar-i-o-i-o

Em Am

In North Ontar-i-o

About The Black Fly Song Chords by Wade Hemsworth

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FAQ — The Black Fly Song by Wade Hemsworth

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The chords for "The Black Fly Song" show the original chord names (including C, Am, Em, Dm, C/B, Ab). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.