Twas early in the spring when I decide to go For to work up in the woods in north on-tar-i-o The unemployment office said they'd send me through To the little abi-tibi 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-picking my bones In north on-tar-i-o-i-o, in north on-tar-i-o
Now the man, black toby was the captain of the crew And he said, \"I'm gonna tell you boys what we're gonna do They want to build a power dam and 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-picking my bones In north on-tar-i-o-i-o, in north on-tar-i-o
So we survey to the east and we survey to the west And we couldn't make our minds up how to do it best Little ab, little ab, what shall I do For 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-picking my bones In north on-tar-i-o-i-o, in north on-tar-i-o
It was black fly, black fly everywhere A-crawlin' in your whiskers, a-crawlin' in your hair A-swimmin' in the soup, and a'swimmin in the tea Oh the devil take the black fly 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-picking my bones In north on-tar-i-o-i-o, in north on-tar-i-o
Black toby fell to swearin' 'cause the work went slow And the state of our morale was gettin' pretty low And 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-picking my bones In north on-tar-i-o-i-o, in north on-tar-i-o
Now the bull cook's name was blind river joe If it hadn't been for him we'd have never pulled through For 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-picking my bones In north on-tar-i-o-i-o, in north on-tar-i-o
At last the job was over, black toby 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
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-picking my bones In north on-tar-i-o-i-o, in north on-tar-i-o