Summer Wages 

Not too many of us left who worked in a camp and blew'er in over the Christmas and July shut downs. I started out in 62 pokin' chokers and then went buckin' behind a set of fallers. I got out of the woods with only a few broken ribs and a dislocated shoulder. That was the price I paid for 10 years in the brush, but I would not trade it for anything. It was always "run or die you SOBs," and we ran. It served me well until I retired after working 50 years.

This is the tempo and phrasing that Tyson used in live performances.....best of many (just an opinion, people)

Pure Gold....played it over and over.

I first heard this song on a David Bromberg album. I’ve loved it every since.

Started in the bush in the logging railway at Woss in 77. Lots of the old guys would head out to Skid Row, Down Town East Side, when a long weekend came by. Many an eye opening story was told by them the next week when they were broke and hungover and had to start saving their cheques for the next blow out! Good times for ol Ernie and the lads! :)

Back to the Yorkville Village days.. Thanks for this Norman

brings back memories

One word .............. excellent ,thanks !!

Excellent. I really like the version and the added final verse.

Really enjoyed this version, thanks for posting it

It was sheer coincidence I came across this version tonight. I had no idea there was a 4th verse, and to think I watched them perform down in Yorkville (Riverboat) back in the early 60s! Perfect ending. Thank You.

RIP Ian.

Great backdrops! Nice extra verse too.

I logged more than a few hours in the old Astoria hotel bar in downtown Calgary. It was one of the first of them to go.

I think the song is much better with the additional verse.

Thanks to Tom Russell for putting this up today.

I don’t care, it is good any way you cook it.

Ian Tyson belongs with the other Canadian music giants - Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen and Neil Young.

Where's Sylvia??

Definitely picked the main part of town that the drinking guys visited. Drank in a few of those bars trying to drag out a couple of guys that did blow their wages every time they hit town.

One "Thumbs down." WTF?!?

I prefer the original recording, this is a slowed down version.

The guitar intro is beginner level; this would have NEVER ever come close to the musicianship from their 2nd, 3rd records.

Poor version