175:, and added some unique touches. To illustrate resentment for the flies, he places heavy emphasis on "black" in the words "black fly", but arguably the most distinct part of the song is where the word "Ontario" is stretched to "On-terr-eye-oh-eye-oh" (a pronunciation also used at times by other artists, such as Alan Mills and Stan Rogers).
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It has been described as a "breakneck romp", characterized by a lively pace, though the first and last verses are reflective and slower. In addition, the verses for the most part hold an upbeat key, coming into contact with the abrasive chorus. Hemsworth provided a folksy tone and
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Page from the site of former
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251:"Three films from National Film Board in animated shorts category".
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Although
Hemsworth had stated he wrote the song while in
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to the determine the feasibility of erecting a dam, the
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And the unemployment office said they'd send me through
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210:In North Ontar-eye-o-eye-o, In North Ontar-eye-o
206:I'll die with the black fly a-pickin' my bones
187:'Twas early in the spring when I decided to go
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87:, written in 1949, about being tormented by
204:Always the black fly no matter where you go
202:And the black flies, the little black flies
193:To the Little Abitibi with the survey crew
157:Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario
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189:To work up in the woods in North Ontario
381:The official short film at the NFB site
272:"In Memoriam Wade Helmsworth 1916–2002"
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147:Plot and musical elements of the song
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371:Download Link for the Black Fly Song
318:Fowke, Edith; Nygaard King, Betty.
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376:The Canadian Encyclopedia article
165:Abitibi Canyon Generating Station
328:. Historica Foundation of Canada
279:The Canadian Folk Music Bulletin
127:in 1991, and was nominated for
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349:. Abitibi Canyon Reunion Site
233:National Film Board of Canada
270:Brown, Lorne (Spring 2002).
416:Culture of Northern Ontario
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104:Kate & Anna McGarrigle
325:The Canadian Encyclopedia
129:Best Animated Short Film
179:Selection from the song
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16:Song by Wade Hemsworth
426:Canadian comedy songs
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406:Wade Hemsworth songs
320:"The Black Fly Song"
257:, November 22, 1992.
161:Little Abitibi River
421:Songs about insects
347:"The Blackfly Song"
159:crew surveying the
137:Best Animated Short
133:64th Academy Awards
125:National Film Board
22:"The Blackfly Song"
431:Songs about Canada
121:Christopher Hinton
141:13th Genie Awards
81:The Blackfly Song
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183:First Verse
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89:black flies
401:1949 songs
395:Categories
353:2011-12-06
332:2009-05-28
304:2009-05-08
238:2009-05-28
229:"Blackfly"
215:References
135:, and for
111:short film
100:folk music
291:0829-5344
113:entitled
54:Published
299:10121662
153:Labrador
123:and the
116:Blackfly
108:animated
97:Canadian
38:Language
198:Chorus
139:at the
131:at the
46:Written
41:English
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275:(PDF)
295:OCLC
287:ISSN
58:1949
49:1949
28:Song
119:by
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