The work of the lumberjack, or "shantyboy" as they were frequently called, was crucial to the growth of America. Not only did cutting timber clear the land for settlement, it provided lumber which was needed to build houses, towns, and ships. Lumbering centers spread from Maine to Pennsylvania and into the Great Lakes region, peaking in the mid-nineteenth century.

Unlike sailors who sang while they worked, lumberjacks generally sang at the end of their twelve to fourteen-hour workday when they went back to the shanty to sharpen their axes, eat, and sleep. The songs they sang were based on Anglo-Irish ballads, but with new lyrics that reflected the hardships and dangers of their work. Once More a-Lumb'ring Go, another song from the "come all ye…" tradition, is somewhat more flamboyant and boastful than most workers' ballads.