CD06-07: Hwacheon, Song for Dragging Down Logs
(Hwacheon, Gangwon Province/ Shin, Hyeon-gyu(70yrs)/ 1995)
◆ Sung while dragging down logs that were cut in the mountain during a large-scale tree cutting. One singer leads the song while lifting up the end of the log with a tool. Then four or five workers follow with the refrain while hooking and pulling down the log. In this way, the log is then dragged to the path and then slides down to the bottom of the mountain. The singer is said to have participated in such large-scale wood cutting works in mountains around.
(Content of Song)
“(Because the tree is so big) It's terrible to look at but it moves swayingly
Like a three year-old baby, it totters along
Dragging this tree, what will you use it for?
When my older daughter gets married, this wood is going to become her closet
Like the maidens of Samsu Gapsan handling the potatoes, the workers drag the logs so well (Samsu and Gapsan are names of places in North Korea, which were famous for abundant potatoes)
If there was someone watching he would probably dance, but with no one around, there is on one to praise me”