"Sawmill Song" lyrics

First man through the gate when they opened this mill
Believe it was in nineteen and fifty-three
And now there's some young man leaning over my shoulder
Tryin' to take this job from me
He keeps tryin' to take this job from me

And once upon a time Curtis said "Look here son
I'm gonna teach you what I know in my trade"
But then boss man just lookin' for a faster gun
He got me fightin' now to make the grade
He keeps me fightin' just to make the grade

Might call it noise but it's music to me
The willow wood cutter's whine
The ten by ten slabs of sawdust and sweat
Well it don't look like much, but it's mine
It don't look like much, but it's mine

Lord won't you keep me a hard-working man
I wanna die with my hand on that rail
And let that boy have his chance when the man has done his time
Take my soul when these old hands have failed
Take my soul when these old hands have failed

Might call it noise but it's music to me
The willow wood cutter's whine
The ten by ten slabs of sawdust and sweat
Well it don't look like much, but it's mine
Well it don't look like much, but it's mine
No, no, it don't look like much, but it's mine