'Twas early in the spring when I decide to go For to work up in the woods of North Ontario. The unemployment office said they'd send me through To the Little Abitibi with the survey crew
And the black flies, the little black flies Always the black fly no matter where you go I'll die with the black fly a Pickin' my bones In North Ontar-i-o-i-o, In North Ontar-i-o
The man Black Tobey was the captain of the crew He said, I'm gonna tell you boys, what we're gonna do They want to build a power dam; we must find a way For to make the Little Ab flow around the other way
And the black flies, the little black flies Always the black fly no matter where you go I'll die with the black fly a Pickin' my bones In North Ontar-i-o-i-o, In North Ontar-i-o
So we survey the east, survey to the west. We couldn't make our minds up how to do it best Little Ab, Little Ab, what shall I do? I'm all but goin' crazy on the survey crew.
And the black flies, the little black flies Always the black fly no matter where you go I'll die with the black fly a Pickin' my bones In North Ontar-i-o-i-o, In North Ontar-i-o
'Twas blackfly, blackfly, everywhere A-crawlin' in your whiskers, a-crawlin' in your hair A-swimmin' in the soup and a-swimmin' in the tea The devil take the blackfly and let me be.
And the black flies, the little black flies Always the black fly no matter where you go I'll die with the black fly a Pickin' my bones In North Ontar-i-o-i-o, In North Ontar-i-o
Black Tobey fell to swearin'; the work went slow The state of our morale was a-gettin' pretty low The flies swarmed heavy; it was hard to catch a breath As you staggered up and down the trail talkin' to yourself
And the black flies, the little black flies Always the black fly no matter where you go I'll die with the black fly a Pickin' my bones In North Ontar-i-o-i-o, In North Ontar-i-o
The bull cook's name was Blind River Joe If it hadn't been for him we'd 've never pulled through He bound up our bruises and he kidded us for fun And he lathered us with bacon grease and balsam gum
And the black flies, the little black flies Always the black fly no matter where you go I'll die with the black fly a Pickin' my bones In North Ontar-i-o-i-o, In North Ontar-i-o
At last the job was over, Black Tobey said, we're through With the Little Abitibi and the survey crew! 'Twas a wonderful experience and this I know; I'll never go again to North Ontar-i-o