Tickle Cove Pond

Great Big Sea

1. In cuttin and haulin in frost and in snow
   we're up against troubles that few people know
   It's only by courage and patience and grit
   and eatin plain food that we keep ourselves fit
   The hard and the easy we take as they come
   and when ponds freeze over we shorten our runs
   to hurry my haulin with spring coming on
   I near lost me a mare out on Tickle Cove Pond

R: Lay hold William Oldford, lay hold William White
   Lay hold of the cordage and pull all your might
   Lay hold of the bowline and pull all you can
   And give me a lift with poor Kit on the pond

2. I knew that the ice grew weaker each day
   But still took the risk and kept haulin away
   One evening in April bound home with a load
   my mare showed some halting against the ice road
   She knew more than I did as matters turned out
   Been lucky for me had I joined her in doubt
   She turned round her head with tears in her eyes
   As if she were sayin "You're risking our lives"

   All this I ignored with a whip handle blow
   For man is a stupid dumb creature you know
   And the very next moment the pond gave a sigh
   and up to our necks went poor Kitty and I

R: Lay hold William Oldford...

   And if I had taken wise Kitty's advice
   I ne'er would have made that short cut on the ice
   Poor creature she's dead, poor creature she's gone
   I'll ne'er get my mare out of Tickle Cove Pond

3. I raised an alarm you could hear for a mile
   and neighbours showed up in a very short while
   You can always rely on the Oldfords and Whites
   To render assistance in all your bad plights
   To help a kind neighbour is part of their lives
   The same can be said for their children and wives
   And with the rope fastened around the mare's breast
   William White for a shanty song made a request
   
   There was no time for thinkin no time for delay
   Straight from his heart came this song right away

R: Lay hold William Oldford... (2x)