Paul Bunyan

from Song of Wisconsin by Jerry Way

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about

The northern half of Wisconsin was a thick forest. Lumberjacks were hired to chop down the trees, saw them into logs, skid them to the sawmill, and float the logs downriver to the sawmill.
Logging was hard and dangerous work. The lumberjack worked long days and lived in shanties in logging camps. Their favorite entertainment was swamping tales about the biggest, strongest, fastest, smartest lumberjack in the woods, Paul Bunyan.

lyrics

PAUL BUNYAN

In the early logging days of Wisconsin,
When the northern stand of big white pine stood tall.
From the southern Great Lakes region of Ontario
Came that legendary lumberjack named Paul.

REFRAIN:
Paul Bunyan! Paul Bunyan!
Timber man of great northwestern fame.
Paul Bunyan! Paul Bunyan!
Big Paul Bunyan was his name.

In his stockings, he stood twelve foot eleven.
He was eight hundred eighty pounds of lumberjack.
Combed his big black burly beard with a buck saw.
He was the strongest man that ever swung an axe.
(REFRAIN)

For his breakfast, he ate six hundred pancakes,
Seven hams, twelve dozen eggs all piping hot,
Thirty seven pounds of beef and one whole venison,
Fried potatoes, bread, and coffee by the pot.
(REFRAIN)

Big Paul’s spirit led the men who cleared Wisconsin,
Sailed the logs on down the river to the mill,
Sawed the lumber for our homes and opened farmlands.
His legend lives on in our hearts and always will.
(REFRAIN)

credits

from Song of Wisconsin, released February 2, 2021
words, music, vocal & guitar: Jerry Way

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all rights reserved

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Jerry Way Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

I've been composing, performing and teaching music for a fair number of years now. I love the pictures that words and music can paint in a person's imagination, while hearing a good song; A guitar is a fine companion for story-sharing. Music is a life-long journey, so the younger we start enjoying it, the better. I'm proud to pass my songs along to new generations. ... more

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