[Intro]
Am Em7 Am
Am G Am (2x)
[Verse 1]
Am G Am
In North Carolina where my papa came from,
G Am
A man was known by the work that he done.
E7 G Am
Welfare checks never paid his bills;
G Am
Papa made a livin' by working sawmills.
G Am G A Am
Papa made a livin' by working sawmills.
[Chorus]
G Am
And the chips would fly and the blades would whirl,
G Am
Bringin' home a livin' to his Carolina girl.
G Am E
Sweat would roll where the wood meets steel;
G Am E
Papa made a livin' by working sawmills.
G A E Am
Papa made a livin' by working sawmills.
Am E G Am
G Am
G Am
[Verse 2]
Am G Am
He'd leave every morning with his axe and saw;
G Am
Cut down the timber that the horses would haul.
Am G Am
God-fearin' man with a woodsman's skill;
G A
Papa made a livin' by working sawmills.
Am G Am
Papa made a livin' by working sawmills.
[Chorus]
G Am
And the chips would fly and the blades would whirl,
G A Am
Bringin' home a livin' to his Carolina girl.
G Am
Sweat would roll where the wood meets steel;
G Am E
Papa made a livin' by working sawmills.
G Am
Papa made a livin' by working sawmills.
[Instrumental Refrain]
[verse 3]
Am Em Am
Lookin' back on it all now, I finally understand;
G Am
It's hard to make a livin' as a sawmill man,
E7 Am
But he raised nine kids with a love I still feel.
G Am
Papa made a livin' by working sawmills.
G Am
Papa made a livin' by working sawmills.
[Chorus]
G Am
And the chips would fly and the blades would whirl,
G Am
Bringin' home a livin' to his Carolina girl.
G Am
Sweat would roll where the wood meets steel;
G Am
Papa made a livin' by working sawmills.
G Am
Papa made a livin' by working sawmills.