Big Bob

You could hear his axe 
Just as loud as you please 
As it bit into wood 
And echo'd through the trees
While we burned all the brush  
And pulled ev'ry stump 
Everyone knew That the source of that thump 
Was Big Bob.

We were making a road 
We were settling down
We were building our homes 
With the help of the crown 
When the Yanks made a noise 
And like a big swarm of bees Forced us off of our land, 
Made us scatter like leaves 
With Big Bob

(Chorus:  Big Bob, Big Bob, Big Bad Bob)

We vowed to return 
And take back what was ours 
We'd give 'em a taste Of sweet victory soured 
Their forest of crimes Of lies and of tax 
Were scorched by our guns 
And fell to the axe
 Of Big Bob

The end came fast As ends often do 
We ran like dogs 
On a day we would rue
We ran from the rebel's  Unquenchable wrath 
And there chopping trees 
Rolling logs in their path 
Was Big Bob

(Chorus)

He waved us ahead 
Said he'd be right along 
Said his axe had to finish Just one last song 
We ran by with a nod 
We were sure he would follow 
But the axe kept singing 
Back there in the hollow 
For Big Bob

We heard shouts and a volley 
Thru the green forest wall 
Then the low creaking groan
Of a tree when it falls 
As we made our retreat 
We looked anxiously back 
But there was nary a sign 
Nor ever a track
 Of Big Bob

(Chorus)

[Epilogue] 
It's been many a year 
Since that terrible day 
But if you listen real close 
So the old wives say 
When the wind blows fierce 
And the trees start to hopping 
On the edge of that noise 
You hear somebody chopping 
Big Bob