WHEN I GET DOWN TO MARGAREE
(kevin gilfoy)

Well my name is John Andrew MacFarlane
The year is 18 hundred and 3
I'm sittin' alone with my ax and my stone
Staring up at another tree
I'll sharpen my blade to cut timbers
Although none of its for me
But things will be different when I get down to Margaree.

They're waitin for word back in Pictou
They're waitin there to hear from me
They're waitin to hear if the land has been cleared
And it's time to bring the family
There will be plenty of room on this homestead
But there isn't any room for me
But things will be different when I get down to Margaree.

My father said he wanted to see me
On the day that we put out to sea
said "for the love of your clan and respect for the land
Boy, now this is how it has to be
You're my oldest son lad and I love you
But there's just too many mouths to feed
So you'll build me my homestead and you'll move on to Margaree."

So now I'm breaking my back
On his ax and his plow
I'm building his dreams
On the sweat of my brow
I want to say I want to stay
But my pride won't allow ...

I wonder if it's like I imagined?
I wonder if there's fish in the streams?
I wonder if the land will be kind to this man?
If there's a pretty girl wainting for me?
But for now I guess I'll keep on working
I guess I'll knock myself another tree
For my time will come when I get down to Margaree
Oh yes the world will be mine when I get down to Margaree!