Tickle Cove Pond – as performed by Great Big Sea



G                              D

In cuttin and haulin in frost and in snow

                 C                         D7

we're up against troubles that few people know

      G                   D 

It's only by courage and patience and grit

                C            D               G

and eatin plain food that we keep ourselves fit

      Em

The hard and the easy we take as they come

        C   walk down to      Am          D

and when ponds freeze over we shorten our runs

   G                             D

to hurry my haulin with spring coming on

                 C           D           G

I near lost me a mare out on Tickle Cove Pond



CHORUS:

D    G                                  D

Lay hold William Oldford, lay hold William White

                C                           D 

Lay hold of the cordage and pull all your might

      G                     D 

Lay hold of the bowline and pull all you can

              C              D          G

And give me a lift with poor Kit on the pond



  G                       D

I knew that the ice grew weaker each day

                   C                    D7 

But still took the risk and kept haulin away

       G                   D           

One evening in April bound home with a load

                    C         D             G

my mare showed some halting against the ice road

       Em

She knew more than I did as matters turned out

        C   walk down to  Am           D

Been lucky for me had I joined her in doubt

      G                         D

She turned round her head with tears in her eyes

               C             D           G

As if she were sayin "You're risking our lives"



    G                     D

All this I ignored with a whip handle blow

             C                        D7

For man is a stupid dumb creature you know

        G                    D

And the very next moment the pond gave a sigh

                    

              C               D         G

and up to our necks went poor Kitty and I



CHORUS



      Em                              

And if I had taken wise Kitty's advice

  C              walk down to      Am         D

I ne'er would have made that short cut on the ice

       G                        D

Poor creature she's dead, poor creature she's gone

                  C           D            G

I'll ne'er get my mare out of Tickle Cove Pond



  G                         D

I raised an alarm you could hear for a mile

                      C                  D7

and neighbours showed up in a very short while

     G                     D     

You can always rely on the Oldfords and Whites

               C        D            G

To render assistance in all your bad plights

     Em

To help a kind neighbour is part of their lives

     C      walk down to       Am           D

The same can be said for their children and wives

      G                     D

And with the rope fastened around the mare's breast

                    C           D         G

William White for a shanty song made a request

          Em

There was no time for thinkin no time for delay

 C               walk down to     Am         D

Straight from his heart came this song right away



CHORUS x2