"Black Flies" written by Wade Hemsworth

This is from my 1965 episodes on a PBS series for children called "What's New." I still sing this song now and then, and there is a missing verse here... actually, it's the first verse that I didn't sing:
'Twas early in the spring when i decide to go
For to work up in the woods in North On-tar-i-o
The unemployment office said they'd send me through
To the little Abi-tibi with the survey crew (chorus)

[@Naturza]

In A Violent Nature brought me here

[@shoobgoob7865]

Me too, I really liked the movie and the song.

[@thepsychedelicpineapple1171]

Good song and movie

[@rongarza1974]

Actually, been listening to her music now because of the movie. This song is great.

[@thaddaeuskruger3796]

Same here

[@KTHR666]

Same. The movie was amazing!

[@yrrej9696]

Who’s here after In a Violent Nature?

[@KTHR666]

Me

[@stephanieroy5299]

I am! Awesome film 😎

[@philipwhitwill226]

This guy

[@komsakt]

me!!!

[@gobigobi5975]

Just watched and found this great song as well.

[@KTHR666]

This song makes me want to yoga near a cliff while a zombie guy in a flannel and an old fashioned firefighter mask is stalking me.

[@user-ly9wr8wj5s]

Very bizzarly and randomly specific, but who am I to judge.

[@EuphoricPeanut]

It makes me want to smoke a cigarette while leaning against a tree, getting a rather tight metallic hug around my face by that same zombie guy

[@THEMOECOOPERSHOWTM]

Yes we know you watched tye movie 🪝

[@movieweb]

This is about to have a very different meaning and association for a lot of people thanks to In a Violent Nature lol

[@chairmanranma9214]

In a violent nature made this song amazing than it already was

[@JeSuisDelete]

As a Canadian, in a violent nature made me so proud.

[@DandyMonty]

And a killer song to end it all 10/10 🍁

[@ivancasanova2154]

Who else is having this song on repeat now cause of “In A Violent Nature”?

[@DarkLordWalker]

I came here after watching 'Not Jason Vorhess playing walking simulator with sounds of nature in the background'. The movie

[@Onesmo]

💀💀 half the movies is Johnny walking in nature

[@johnlewis5665]

Yup

[@bleuthold]

Used perfectly in In A Violent Nature

[@Parisella]

this is enough to make me wanna watch the movie

[@iainRoman]

Song so good it has my head in my chest

[@KTHR666]

😂

[@baattrin314]

And makes me wanna do yoga

[@gregxedge]

My bro who watched In violent nature brought me here. Now I’m gonna watch it too. Cool song 🙏

[@kyotoburning]

Здесь был Ти

[@williamglass2223]

Best tourism advert for Ontario I’ve ever seen.

[@Rick-Sanchez-C-137]

My teacher in grade 2 played this song we all laughed then we watched The Dog Who Stopped The War... that was a huge teacher mistake. 😢

[@36drew_37]

the credits of in a violent nature got me here this song heat

[@andrewclack4881]

love the phrasing On-tar-I-O and the accent. Something so pure about folk music.

[@thesilentknight4554]

"If you tell somebody not to do something, they're gonna go right ahead and do it anyway." *Perfect quote for such a violent film😵💥🩸*

[@btothea5641]

Perfect song to end the movie on, right up there with “Jeepers Creepers” end credits music!

[@ianfinnigan264]

Perfect example of how the end credits song is just as important as any other part of the movie. It can really help stick the landing, or it can completely spoil the mood. Some films know this, like Violent Nature (obviously), Jeepers Creepers, Lost Boys, and arguably the FNaF movie. Other films though... well I think we all know what generic horror end credits sound like.

[@FishingFan535]

My bloody valentine (1981) also has a great end credit song

[@GrandpaChris]

I am 82 & me and my grandson Mark Taylor went up there for a family reunion. We drove through Blind River and the blackflies lifted up our VW car and almost dumped it in the first Thessalon river. But we made it back to Oshawa. Great song!

[@herbert9241]

A most heartwarming anecdote, thanks Chris. Great song indeed.

[@lonelyone]

The only music from In a Violent Nature, so it really leaves an impact. "I'll die with a black fly pickin' my bones" is a haunting lyric. Wish I could find this track to buy somewhere, but it doesn't seem to have been released on an album. 😕

[@biancaluedeker]

The poor crew were eaten alive during production.

[@JamesPawson]

It is rough living here, but just the fact that this song exists makes it a little nicer.

[@PHJimY]

You have slowed it down to make it actually singable. Great version. For some reason Wade sang it about twice as fast as this. When the late Jack Nissenson played at Folk At The Forum, he told the story of Wade Hemsworth introducing his Black Fly song to the Montreal folk group The Mountain City Four. Kate and Anna McGarrigle said, "Wade, you have too many words in your songs. There's no place to breathe" Wade said, "A singer is supposed to SING, not breathe."

[@GeneRogers-di6cl]

Found this by accident and very happy I did ❤

[@MovieMakerJBT]

0:55 can’t stop listening to this after seeing “In A Violent Nature”

[@michaelpalmieri7335]

"I don't think I would've liked to be there, would you?" I definitely wouldn't have, Tracy, that's for sure.

[@directedbyxanderjones8329]

I just got through watching a movie In A Violent Nature. This song played during the ending credits.

[@iggycamdon]

4:09 What I said to my friend after we finished watching "In a Violent Nature"

[@Ghostwolf.83]

I came here from In A Violent Nature too, but as a rural Mainer, I really do feel this song. 😩

[@StevenTyler94]

Love this! We need it on streaming platforms 😩

[@adomlee5969]

Lol I think I just fell in love, years too late...

[@adomlee5969]

I apologize, dear lady. It seems I was already in love lol. Seems I've been a fan for years; I'm only now learning of this side of your work 😊 *hugs*

[@RobertChandler-ie7ix]

In a violent nature Was a awesome movie

[@mlbg10158]

This is so cool to see again. I remember watching reruns of “What’s New” on KVZK-TV all the way out in American Samoa in 1970. This song was one of the first folk tunes I remember learning. I’ve been a musician myself for 40 years, have sung across the country in thousands of gigs in all 50 states; but this fun little ditty has always been in the back of my mind. Fun! Stay safe and well, Tracy!

[@Kittypetmeow]

It's so lovely :)

[@cosmicsunbeams]

Great performance!❤

[@charlesweldonjr6773]

🎉violent nature

[@roadking0073]

I'm dedicating this song to my friends in Thunder Bay! Hello from Southeast Manitoba!

[@bruhnstv]

You're exactly right about the warning! When I hear this song, my skin just crawls. No way I'd take an outdoor job in North Ontario! ;-)

[@Scratchingforcash]

In a violent nature was a quiet but absolutely brutal movie. The killings were especially brutal. This song was amazing though.

[@Mr9Guns]

Anyone who grew up in Canada remembers this song! I remember the little animated short the National Film Board made about it in the 90's. Wonderful nostalgia here.

[@michaelpalmieri7335]

I've seen that cartoon. They showed it several times on a program called "O Canada," on the Cartoon Network. I've also seen it on KZbin, although I first heard the song itself when I saw this clip with Tracey Newman on the "What's New" program on T.V. when I was a boy back in the 1960s. In the cartoon, the song was sung by Wade Hemsworth, who wrote the song, which was based on his real-life experiences while working with a survey crew to build a power dam in North Ontario.

[@PHJimY]

@@michaelpalmieri7335 Wade only wrote fewer than 30 songs I believe, but so many of them were great. I love "The Log Driver's Waltz", "Foolish You", "The Jam At Gerry's Rocks", "The Wild Goose", "The Murder Of FC Benwell". . .

[@michaelpalmieri7335]

@@PHJimY Yes, I like "The Log Driver's Waltz" too. I found a video of the cartoon accompanying it on KZbin, but I first saw it on a Cable TV special about Canadian animation years ago (I think it was on the Arts And Entertainment network, also called A&E, and it was hosted by film critic Leonard Maltin). I also saw it a few times on that "O Canada" program on the Cartoon Network.

[@PHJimY]

@@michaelpalmieri7335 That video used Kate and Anna McGarrigle's version of "Log Driver's..." Kate and Anna were good friends of Wade from back in the Mountain City Four days. They did a wonderful version of Wade's "Foolish You" on one of their early LPs.

[@bungorogers7067]

I grew up hearing this song in the NFB animation short brodcast on Canadian TV all the time. Your version is my new fave!

[@michaelpalmieri7335]

*broadcast

[@SeekerGoldstone]

Tracy Newman is a treasure. We're lucky to have her.

[@shanac5536]

Im here after watching that movie where i watch a guy walk around the woods for 2 hours.

[@DennisMurphey]

I come back to find more of your work from the 65 show and just love watching your energy and hearing your sweet voice and the fret hand flying around. You are so fun and energic. Wonderful Artist. Thank You D

[@Kellyons1]

I've worked in the bush and the bugs can get baaaad!, the Black Fly song tells it like it is.

[@DanDDirges]

You are absolutely my new hero! Great song! New for me!

[@tedmccarron]

Besides being a great singer she's cute too, both then and now. 😊

[@nicholaskoch8599]

songs a fucking banger

[@nicholasgolden1850]

just discovered this song -- so good! the video quality is remarkable

[@SmashAtoms]

Hey, I’m back after watching In a Violent Nature lol

[@Odin230]

Fun fact: Tracy Newman was the co creator for the tv show According to Jim.

[@zigsinclair]

wow, thank you so much!!!! my mom is gonna love this, wade hemsworth canadian icon

[@tedmccarron]

If North Ontario is unbearable during the warm-weather because of black flies then imagine what it's like during the winter because it's probably parallel with Alaska. The moral of the story, never go to North Ontario at all! LOL.

[@lukeholman7574]

tedmccarron that’s why generally the further North you go in Canada the people get hardier.

[@JamesPawson]

It's actually colder on average here, than it is in Alaska, in the winter.

[@Mr9Guns]

It gets chilly for sure. I've worked outside in temperatures down to -60 Celsius in Manitoba.

[@tedmccarron]

@@Mr9Guns is that Fahrenheit or Celsius? I'm not sure what Canada uses.

[@Mr9Guns]

@@tedmccarron That's Celsius, would be about the same in Fahrenheit though once you get down that cold.

[@timothyhume8703]

I fondly remember "What's New" and your appearances on it...especially this song! Thank you for posting it!

[@BetsyJillJackson]

You are a natural on camera!

[@TracyNewmanOfficial]

Aw shucks.

[@andyZ3500s]

I would of loved this as a kid. I could see me and my two little sisters sitting on the floor with big smiles swaying back and forth. It's to bad that no TV executives saw any potential for some kind of music related show.

[@michaelpalmieri7335]

@@andyZ3500s *too

[@michaelpalmieri7335]

@@TracyNewmanOfficial Yes, Tracy, there is a verse missing, but fortunately, I've found it in Wade Hemsworth's version of the song that was featured in the animated cartoon based on it, which was made by the National Film Board Of Canada. Here it is: "Black Tobey fell to swearin,' The work went slow, The state of our morale was a-getting pretty low, The flies swarmed heavy; hard to catch your breath, As you staggered up and down the trail a-talkin' to yourself. (Chorus) with those blackflies, etc.

[@LuisGonzalez-px4sj]

This is really catchy song

[@SmashAtoms]

My friends and I would go for drives in the country listening to oldies, and one of those was the Black Fly song. I recently got a wild hair to listen to it again and found your version, and it’s great. I get goosebumps every time the chorus comes around. Thanks for sharing this!

[@WhoamI-qz5sj]

I came after watching the movie called: In a Violent Nature

[@fortunatejeremy]

Nice rendition. A very different vibe than what I'm used to with this song.

[@mst3k54]

I assumed they used this in the movie bc it’s in public domain now? And it’s fitting for the end of Canadian Friday the 13th.

[@jeremypaluck4246]

Thank you so much for sharing this amazing little tune

[@jackcarpenter8629]

This song is true

[@michaelpalmieri7335]

It sure is. It was written by a man named Wade Hemsworth, and was based on his own personal experiences while working with a survey crew to build a power dam in North Ontario, Canada. Apparently, it was a rough time for Mr. Hemsworth and the others because they were constantly being bothered and bitten by the swarms of blackflies. Some of the men received so many bites, that their faces swelled up, including the skin around their eyes, making it almost impossible to see. Wade Hemsworth wrote "The Blackfly Song" some time in the late 1940s or the early '50s, I think.

[@RoryDavidWatts]

What a wonderful song, thank you Tracy

[@themaestro2572]

You're a good boy, Johnny.

[@grabbaloot]

that was insane

[@philjones6723]

Wonderful! Thnx for bringing this out of the vault. More please! 😁 Philj

[@johnlovric]

treasure - thank you

[@Opechalena_]

Oh, I love it😘😘😘

[@tiagodmc6367]

I LOVE! MUSIC❤

[@mannothingtolose1245]

well turn me right side up n put me down ,LOVE Aminita!

[@o0t4ku]

johnny's anthem now haha

[@tylormorris9244]

Listening to this right now walking through a trail

[@CalvinBensonOfficial]

This song feels both ominous, sentimental, dreadful, happy, sad, and bittersweet at the same time

[@buska100]

Excellent...Love it

[@ISashaI]

The Devil take the Blackfly, let me be!!!!!!!

[@mrgildons]

A great rendition!

[@ozienozie]

❤❤❤

[@OldManEsteban]

trying so hard to find this on spotify

[@dangood5080]

Amazing cover

[@travishill7786]

Violent nature

[@OnlySethDavis]

I enjoyed this

[@jasondrake9962]

Me too Naturza.

[@user-ly9wr8wj5s]

Who knew about this song before In a violent nature?

[@theblishknovk]

Good stuff.

[@BobWarnerBarn]

Nice..!

[@markopolo2224]

lmao actually a good quality and it feels like 50fps and nice song

[@violentfrog_]

our national anthem as Canadian surveyors

[@karlgustov9648]

3:03 I keep expecting her to launch into the duck song.

[@asher.aep0]

Who else here from In A Violent Nature

[@shlime_mp4]

I’ll die W/ a black fly pickin @ my bones.

[@RascalKyng]

They don't make people this cute and articulate anymore.

[@ferretyluv]

Just curious, does anyone know what kind of video format this is? These kind of 30fps black and white old videos? Isn’t it something like something chrone?

[@user-iz2lq9om6i]

Melodi - super.Music -- super .Hellou in Ural .

[@danhunter4383]

Bzzz bzzz bzzz bzzz...if it isn't the black flies its the snow flies.

[@ExCommie]

@Tracy Newman, how many men fell in love with you just by listening to you? lol

[@rodrigoolvera5983]

Está flaquita un tanto menudita y, cuánto cabello tiene bajo el sombrero? Es muy abil con la guitarra, estoy buscando tutoriales para tocar guitarra

[@peterparziale2404]

Given your opening comments, I don't expect you to do this: Why not fit in one or two of these songs from 57+ years ago in your present-day shows as a sort of tip-of-the-hat to your roots? Maybe not this specific song, but you're doing a trad song and a Dylan song in other videos from this show.

[@tendibuster]

W

[@03656786780]

Eu estou vendo quem está vendo do Brasil deixa like

[@dill-ez5ug]

What does "Little Ab" mean? google is useless and says it means Adult Baby but i doubt they had them back then... is it a body of water? Albany river??

[@shroomdad2554]

It's short for the Little Abitibi, the river along which the crew in the song is building the dam!

[@dill-ez5ug]

@@shroomdad2554 thanks that shoulda been obvious i guess, heres a gay guy with a mohawk as a thankyou!

[@Beansahol]

"I think you could look at this song as a warning against going to that part of the country in the spring or the summer" Gee whiz you could've told the kids near the ranger camp that before they got butchered

[@gwenhochheimer2273]

What an awkward introduction! The Little Abitibi is a river in Northern Ontar (ee)o, Canada, not the name of a dam. My home is not far from there. The songwriter was likely surveying for a railway line, or, less likely, a mining company. I'd much rather be from an area that deals with blackflies than those that present Earthquakes, Tornados, Hurricanes, snakes and alligators, drought, At least you can dress for blackflies.

[@sketchyimprints4949]

Me

[@sidework1]

*Thudding continues*

[@insaneasock3156]

This song was the best part of In A Violent Nature