A shanty man's lifenIs a wearisome onenThough some say it's free from carenIt's the swinging of an axenFrom morning 'till nightnIn the forest wild and drearnnTransported as we arenFrom a lady so fairnTo the banks of some lonely streamnWhere the wolf, bear, and owlnGive a terrifying howlnAnd disturb our nightly dreamsnnOh sleeping at nightnIn our bunks without cheernWhile the cold winter winds do blownBut as soon as the morning nStar does appearnTo the wild woods we must gonnHad we ale, wine, or beernOur spirits far to cheernWhen we're in those woods so wildnWhere a glass of whiskey shonenWhen we're in the woods alonenFor to pass away our long exilennA shanty man's lifenIs a wearisome onenTho some say it's free from carenIt's the swinging of an axenFrom morning 'till nightnIn the forest wild and drear