A Life in a Prairie Shack

1. Oh, a life in the prairie shack when the rain begins to pour
Drip, drip, it comes through the roof and some comes through the door
The tenderfoot curses his fate, and faintly mutters, "Ah!
This bloomin' country's a fraud and I want to go home to my ma!"

cho: Ma, ma, I want to go home to my ma
This bloomin' country's a fraud and I want to go home to my ma!

2. He tried to light a fire at twenty degrees below
He made a lick at a stick and he amputated his toe
And as he crawled to his shack, he was heard to mutter, "Ah!
This bloomin' country's a fraud and I want to go home to my ma!"

3. He saddled his fiery cayuse, determined to flourish round
The critter began to buck and threw him off on the the ground
And as he picked himself up, he was heard to mutter, "Ah!
This bloomin' country's a fraud and I want to go home to my ma!"

4. Now all you tenderfeet, list, before you go too far
If you haven't a government sit, then you'd better stay where you are
And if you take my advice, then you will not mutter, "Ah!
This bloomin' country's a fraud and I want to go home to my ma!"

from Capt. Charles Cates (1899-1960), from his father.
PJT Coll 169; Penguin Book of Canadian Folk Songs.
4.2 sit = situation [job].
Tune is "A Life on the Ocean Wave"

JB
apr96