Logger's Holler by Edward J. Hines
This is a song about the days when the Connecticut River was used to move
logs to the mills in Turners Falls and Holyoke, Massachusetts. Hard and dangerous work, for sure.
While doing research for the song, I discovered logging terms you never hear anymore:
Boomer: a temporary worker.
Whistle Punk: unskilled laborer who operated whistle blasts.
Pick Pole: long pole with a spike used for moving logs down the river.
Wings: logs that bunched up along the river’s edge and stopped moving Auger Handler: those who moved wings back into the river.
I also discovered that loggers working the river typically ate three meals before noon. Some of their favorites included biscuits, doughnuts, ham and tea, which became the perfect refrain.
Can you tell what the counting time is? (hint: it isn't in 4 time!)
BTW, the instrument I'm playing is an Arabic buzuq, similar to the Greek buzuki, except it has quarter-tones, which I use in the song.
-Edward J. Hines