[Verse 1]
'Twas early in the spring when I decide to go
For to work up in the woods in North Ontar-i-o
And the unemployment office said they'd see me through
To the Little Abitibi with the survey crew

[Chorus]
And the black flies, the little black flies
Always the black fly no matter where you go
I'll die with the black fly a-pickin' my bones
In North Ontar-i-o-i-o, In North Ontar-i-o

[Verse 2]
Now the man Black Toby was the captain of the crew
And he said "I'm gonna tell you boys what we're gonna do
They want to build a power dam and we must find a way
For to make the littlе Ab flow around the other way"

[Chorus]
And the black fliеs, the little black flies
Always the black fly no matter where you go
I'll die with the black fly a-pickin' my bones
In North Ontar-i-o-i-o, In North Ontar-i-o

[Verse 3]
So we survey to the east and we survey to the west
And we couldn't make our minds up how to do it best
Little Ab, Little Ab, what shall I do?
For I'm all but goin' crazy on the survey crew
[Chorus]
And the black flies, the little black flies
Always the black fly no matter where you go
I'll die with the black fly a-pickin' my bones
In North Ontar-i-o-i-o, In North Ontar-i-o

[Verse 4]
It was blackfly, blackfly, blackfly, everywhere
A-crawlin in your whiskers, a- crawlin in your hair
A-swimmin' in the soup and a-swimmin' in the tea
Oh the Devil take the blackfly and leave me be

[Chorus]
And the black flies, the little black flies
Always the black fly no matter where you go
I'll die with the black fly a-pickin' my bones
In North Ontar-i-o-i-o, In North Ontar-i-o

[Verse 5]
Black Toby fell to swearin' cuz the work went slow
And the state of our morale was a-gettin' mighty low
And the flies swarmed heavy; it was hard to catch a breath
As you staggered up and down the trail, talkin' to yourself

[Chorus]
And the black flies, the little black flies
Always the black fly no matter where you go
I'll die with the black fly a-pickin' my bones
In North Ontar-i-o-i-o, In North Ontar-i-o
[Verse 6]
Now the bull cook's name was Blind River Joe
If it hadn't been for him, we'd've never pulled through
For he bound up our bruises and he kidded us for fun
And he lathered us with bacon grease and balsam gum

[Chorus]
For the black flies, the little black flies
Always the black fly no matter where you go
I'll die with the black fly a-pickin' my bones
In North Ontar-i-o-i-o, In North Ontar-i-o

[Verse 7]
And at last the job was over, Black Toby said "We're through
With the Little Abitibi and the survey crew"
T'was a wonderful experience and this I know
I'll never go again to North Ontario

[Chorus]
With the black flies, the little black flies
Always the black fly no matter where you go
I'll die with the black fly a-pickin' my bones
In North Ontar-i-o-i-o, In North Ontar-i-o

[Chorus]
With the black flies, the little black flies
Always the black fly no matter where you go
I'll die with the black fly a-pickin' my bones
In North Ontar-i-o-i-o, In North Ontar-i-o