Canals of Old England
by Phil Underwood
I'm a working boatman I travel afar
Deliver your coal wherever you are
I've good red diesel to fill up your tank
Gas for your oven, wood for your fire
Chorus:
Chugging along, singing a song,
What's round the next bend I'll know before long
My hand on the tiller, I'll whistle and sing
Canals of Old England Carry Me On
My boat is a beauty all seventy feet
Straight as an arrow and painted so neat
Her name on the side, a cratch of bright red
Roses and Castles all round my head
I wake up at dawn, break my fast
My wife she will cook me a tasty repast
Fresh bacon and bread and cheese from the cow
A mug of hot tea and I'm ready at last
Start up the engine, cast off the lines
Cruising along, its all going fine
A hold full of coal and a tankful of fuel
Our butty behind us, we're making good time
The trip boats are many they get in the way
Stuck in the locks and taking all day
I'll ask them to kindly let me go by
I need to keep moving to earn me pay
At the end of the day, we tie up to rest
Go up to the pub for a pint of the best
I'll get out me squeezebox, sing you this song
Canals of Old England Carry Me On
I'd like to thank Phil Underwood for giving me permission to reproduce his lyrics and use his recording of this
excellent song. Phil is a playwright/musician who tours two canal based shows : Roses and Castles and Canals of Old
England which are well worth looking out for.
In 2020 Phil Underwood and Denise Dryburgh (DryWood) performed an on-line concert (Songs from the Back Cabin)
which includes this song. It can be viewed on this website by clicking on the above image.
Canals of Old England
by Phil Underwood
I'm a working boatman I travel afar
Deliver your coal wherever you are
I've good red diesel to fill up your tank
Gas for your oven, wood for your fire
Chorus:
Chugging along, singing a song,
What's round the next bend I'll know before long
My hand on the tiller, I'll whistle and sing
Canals of Old England Carry Me On
My boat is a beauty all seventy feet
Straight as an arrow and painted so neat
Her name on the side, a cratch of bright red
Roses and Castles all round my head
I wake up at dawn, break my fast
My wife she will cook me a tasty repast
Fresh bacon and bread and cheese from the cow
A mug of hot tea and I'm ready at last
Start up the engine, cast off the lines
Cruising along, its all going fine
A hold full of coal and a tankful of fuel
Our butty behind us, we're making good time
The trip boats are many they get in the way
Stuck in the locks and taking all day
I'll ask them to kindly let me go by
I need to keep moving to earn me pay
At the end of the day, we tie up to rest
Go up to the pub for a pint of the best
I'll get out me squeezebox, sing you this song
Canals of Old England Carry Me On
I'd like to thank Phil Underwood for giving me permission to
reproduce his lyrics and use his recording of this excellent song. Phil
is a playwright/musician who tours two canal based shows : Roses
and Castles and Canals of Old England which are well worth looking
out for.
In 2020 Phil Underwood and Denise Dryburgh (DryWood) performed
an on-line concert (Songs from the Back Cabin) which includes this
song. It can be viewed on this website by clicking on the above image.