Bargesby Ralph McTellMe and my brother returned to the waterI saw a pike that was two feet long.Two small magicians, each with a jam jarCast spells on the water with hazel twig wands.Country boys catch tadpoles, dive into waterMade shy by their laughter, we wandered down streamAnd summer rolled o'er us with no complications'Cept thinking of Mama sometimes in dreams.We stand by the drawbridge, waiting for bargesWaiting around for smiles from the man.Lifting the bridge whilst watching the horsesDragging the slow boats up the canal.I do remember the times but no numberAfter the day, but before evening comesWaiting for castles and kettles with rosesPainted on barges that sailed into the sun.Oh, see the river run, that was by man begunOpen the locks, let the boats sail on,Taking their castles and kettles with rosesWith summers of childhood leaving smiles on the man.The song has been recorded by its author Ralph McTell on the 1999 CD 'Not Till Tomorrow', which can be obtained from his web-site. This song owes much to Ralph’s childhood experiences. Ralph McTell was a war baby; born in 1944. His father walked out on his mother when he was young leaving her to raise Ralph and his younger brother Bruce alone. In the Summer months, the two boys would stay with their uncle and aunt and their grandparents in Banbury - the Oxfordshire town on the Oxford Canal. There they spent many hours beside the canal doing what young boys do.
As recorded by Ralph McTell
[G]Me and my brother returned to the waterI saw a [D]pike that was [C]two feet [G]long.[Em]Two small mag[G]icians, [Em]each with a [G]jam jarCast [Em]spells on the [G]water with [D]hazel twig [Em]wands.
Bargesby Ralph McTellRecorded by Ralph McTellMe and my brother returned to the waterI saw a pike that was two feet long.Two small magicians, each with a jam jarCast spells on the water with hazel twig wands.Country boys catch tadpoles, dive into waterMade shy by their laughter, we wandered down streamAnd summer rolled o'er us with no complications'Cept thinking of Mama sometimes in dreams.We stand by the drawbridge, waiting for bargesWaiting around for smiles from the man.Lifting the bridge whilst watching the horsesDragging the slow boats up the canal.I do remember the times but no numberAfter the day, but before evening comesWaiting for castles and kettles with rosesPainted on barges that sailed into the sun.Oh, see the river run, that was by man begunOpen the locks, let the boats sail on,Taking their castles and kettles with rosesWith summers of childhood leaving smiles on the man.The song has been recorded by its author Ralph McTell on the 1999 CD 'Not Till Tomorrow', which can be obtained from his website. This song owes much to Ralph’s childhood experiences. Ralph McTell was a war baby; born in 1944. His father walked out on his mother when he was young leaving her to raise Ralph and his younger brother Bruce alone. In the Summer months, the two boys would stay with their uncle and aunt and their grandparents in Banbury - the Oxfordshire town on the Oxford Canal. There they spent many hours beside the canal doing what young boys do.