Canoeing The Beautiful River

We've got bites on top of bites, yeah, we're really having fun:
the chiggers and no-see-ums keep us on the run...
the mosquitoes and flies are sharpening their knives:
I wouldn't be at all surprised if we get eaten alive.

Ouch—slap—ow! —Hey! Give us a break!
You critters are treating us like we're juicy steaks...
You act like repellent is barbecue sauce!
When it's summer in the north woods, you folks are the boss!


But canoeing the beautiful river
makes it all worthwhile...
we shoot the rapids, then drift downstream,
mile after mile.

Black flies, deer flies, and horse flies all love rare meat:
if you are a masochist, you'll find this a rare treat...
they definitely mean business, yes, they're out for blood,
and they'll eat your sense of humor first—that's what really tastes good!!

Well, all right, we give up, you win, dig in...
help yourselves to seconds, have some more meat and skin...
there's only one thing that worries me, while y'all are gettin' down:
I just hope there's enough of us to go around.

But canoeing the beautiful river
makes it all worthwhile...
we shoot the rapids, then drift downstream,
mile
after mile...
after mile,
after mile