The Bright New Future Song by Sue Lee Recorded by Keepers Lock Now all the wars are over And we are safe back home It's back to work boys, do not shirk Time's not stood still, it's flown They said that wars would change our lives Things would never be the same Now we've found out what it's all about By God they were right - to their shame Chorus : Look to the future lads You must all lend a hand To build a bright new future lads In England's pleasant land! Now I'm back on my bit a' cut Working old England's canals Tho' it's good to be back, enjoying the crack I remember me comrades and pals But the times they have all chang-ed now And it's not for the better, I say For we're on our own so we cannot moan! There's no army to march us away But what's become of the carrying trade The cargoes, the boats and all Now the number ones can't make ends meet While the companies go up the wall! Where are those carriers, boats and crew Willow Wren and the G.C.C.C. Thomas Clayton and Pickfords, the names we all knew S.E. Barlow, the great F.M.C.? First railways came to take our trade Motor transport and brand new roads Squeezing our profits before they're made We could not compete with our loads Their answer was to nationalise Then they closed the canals and changed our lives No bright future would ever come our way Recorded on :