Shel Silverstein – The Great Lakes Song

Sweet Mother Michigan, Father Superior
Coming down from Mackinaw and Sault Ste. Marie
Blue water Huron
Rolls down to Lake Erie-o, falls into Ontario
And runs out to sea

The great lakes are a diamond
On the hand of North America
A bright shinning jewel on the friendship border ring
Fresh water highway
Coming down from Canada
While all along the coastline
You can hear them sing

Singing...Sweet Mother Michigan, Father Superior
Coming down from Mackinaw and Sault Ste. Marie
Blue water Huron
Rolls down to Lake Erie-o, falls into Ontario
And runs out to sea

Hardy are the seamen
On the ships that load the iron ore
Sailing out of Thunder Bay, bound for Buffalo
Hardy are the fisherman
Like their fathers were before
They say they'll bury me at sea
When it's my time to go

Singing...Sweet Mother Michigan, Father Superior
Coming down from Mackinaw and Sault Ste. Marie
Blue water Huron
Rolls down to Lake Erie-o, falls into Ontario
And runs out to sea

Down below the quarterdeck
The old men mend the fishing nets
While up upon the windy bridge
The young men curse into the wind
Up and down the Windsor straits
The wives, the mothers lie awake
And pray our lady of the lake
Will bring them home again

Singing...Sweet Mother Michigan, Father Superior
Coming down from Mackinaw and Sault Ste. Marie
Blue water Huron
Rolls down to Lake Erie-o, falls into Ontario
And runs out to sea
Falls into Ontario
And runs out to sea