David Mallett Haying Song
When the raspberries burst from the woodbine
And the summer lies close to the ground
And the porch is the fit place for young boys to sleep
And the brook in the hollow dies down
Then with straw hats and wagons and horses
Like young Tim and tired old Dan
We head for the field to the creek of the wheel
With the pitchfork that blisters your hand
And ya have to make hay when the sun shines
That's what all of the hill people say
Ya just keep your load wide, keep an eye on the sky
And make sure it's dry when you put it away
I remember the chaff on the back of my neck
The cool at the edge of the trees
And you rest for a time, you talk about the weather
You drink from the spring and get mud on your knees
But it's back to the wagon, it's back to the mow
Six loads in and eight more to go
And there's biscuits and beans at the late supper meal
And there's nothing like beans when you're workin' you know
And ya have to make hay when the sun shines
That's what all of the hill people say
Ya just keep your load wide, keep an eye on the sky
And make sure it's dry when you put it away
'Tis the season of clover and killdeer
'Tis the time when the earth does her best
It's when all men are strong and the workdays are long
And ya know when to rise and ya know when to rest
And in the cool of the evenin' I'd perch on the load
And let the wagon wind blow thru my hair
And count off the stars and talk to the moon
And sing to myself in the sweet summer air
Hang on at the corners and duck from the branches
And sing to myself and the sweet summer air
And ya have to make hay when the sun shines
That's what all of the hill people say
Ya just keep your load wide, keep an eye on the sky
And make sure it's dry when you put it away
And ya have to make hay when the sun shines
That's what all of the hill people say
Ya just keep your load wide, keep an eye on the sky
And make sure it's dry when you put it away