Sawmill [Tommy Shaw]

Sawmill

Written by Tommy Shaw

Lead Vocals by Tommy Shaw

Papaw followed the timber in 1929
With seven hungry children
He was working all the time

Daddy was the middle son
Tough as a fire plug
That's why Papaw chose him
To carry the water jug

Drink, drink, drink from the cup
Here's a litle mud in your eye
Drink, drink fill her back up
Never let the jug run dry

The woods of Sylacauga
Is where they pitched their tent
Amidst lumberjacks and loggers
Worked hard for every cent

One day while hauling water
On the rounds he made
He watched a man get split in two
Who was careless with the blade

Drink, drink, drink from the cup
Here's a little mud in your eye
Drink, drink fill her back up
Never let the jug run dry
Never let the jug run dry

As I look back I still recall
That everywhere he'd go
He always kept a water jug
Made sure he kept it full

Daddy loved to tell the tale
It never did get old
Visions of dead lumberjacks
Still make my blood run cold

Drink, drink, drink from the cup
Here's a little mud in your eye
Drink, drink fill her back up
Never let the jug run dry
Never let the jug run dry 

Interpretation

Working as a lumberjack is dangerous work. As a child bringing water to a worker all day  you would see a fair number of serious injuries and gruesome deaths.