G                              D
1. In cuttin and haulin in frost and in snow
   C                         D7
   we're up against troubles that few people know
   G                   D
   It's only by courage and patience and grit
   C            D               G
   and eatin plain food that we keep ourselves fit
   Em
   The hard and the easy we take as they come
   C                     Am          D
   and when ponds freeze over we shorten our runs
   G                             D
   to hurry my haulin with spring coming on
   C           D           G
   I near lost me a mare out on Tickle Cove Pond

   D    G                                  D
R: Lay hold William Oldford, lay hold William White
   C                           D
   Lay hold of the cordage and pull all your might
   G                     D
   Lay hold of the bowline and pull all you can
   C              D          G
   And give me a lift with poor Kit on the pond

2. I knew that the ice grew weaker each day
   But still took the risk and kept haulin away
   One evening in April bound home with a load
   my mare showed some halting against the ice road
   She knew more than I did as matters turned out
   Been lucky for me had I joined her in doubt
   She turned round her head with tears in her eyes
   As if she were sayin "You're risking our lives"

   G                     D
   All this I ignored with a whip handle blow
   C                        D7
   For man is a stupid dumb creature you know
   G                    D
   And the very next moment the pond gave a sigh
   C               D         G
   and up to our necks went poor Kitty and I

R: Lay hold William Oldford...

   Em
   And if I had taken wise Kitty's advice
   C              walk down to      Am         D
   I ne'er would have made that short cut on the ice
   G                        D
   Poor creature she's dead, poor creature she's gone
   C           D            G
   I'll ne'er get my mare out of Tickle Cove Pond

3. I raised an alarm you could hear for a mile
   and neighbours showed up in a very short while
   You can always rely on the Oldfords and Whites
   To render assistance in all your bad plights
   To help a kind neighbour is part of their lives
   The same can be said for their children and wives
   And with the rope fastened around the mare's breast
   William White for a shanty song made a request
   
   Em
   There was no time for thinkin no time for delay
   C                                 Am         D
   Straight from his heart came this song right away

R: Lay hold William Oldford... (2x)