A Light At The End Of The Tunnel
© Barry Goodman 2008
Recorded by Life & Times
Chorus:
There’s a light at the end of the tunnel,
Though we’ve bridges and locks to restore,
We’ll dig and we’ll build like the navvies of old,
Till there’s boats on the cut once more.
This canal used to carry the wealth of the land
From the pit to the factory floor
But the railways and roads stole the narrow boats’ loads
And the cut wasn’t used any more.
They said it was redundant, with no more work to do,
This stretch of muddy water is no earthly use to you;
This canal used to carry the wealth of the land
But it just isn’t used any more.
The working boats are gone and the locks are broken down
Where the line of the cut remains,
But with vision and drive we can make it revive
And put boats on the cut again
We’ll form a conservation group and jungle-bust the weeds,
We’ll advertise for volunteers to meet the project’s needs,
Where the working boats are gone and the locks are broken down,
There’ll be boats on the cut again.
We’ll make ourselves a charity and tell the local folks
The canal’s going to be restored
And we’ll start a campaign to reopen again
This canal so long ignored.
The environment will benefit, the economy will thrive,
The work will bring employment and the cut will be alive
With tourist boats and fishermen who’ll show the local folks
This canal cannot be ignored.
Final Chorus:
There’s a light at the end of the tunnel,
Though we’ve bridges and locks to restore,
We’ll dig and we’ll build like the navvies of old,
Till there’s boats on the cut once more;
The canal will be used once more,
This canal cannot be ignored,
There’ll be boats on the cut once more
The work of the canal restoration societies has been invaluable in restoring canals that have fallen into disuse and
reopening derelict and long-forgotten canals. Their work is still far from done if they are to restore all the original
4000 miles or so of canal that crossed the country.
Barry Goodman, who wrote the song and kindly provided the words, music and additional information, was a member
of song duo 'Life and Times' and dance band 'Time of Your Life'.
Recorded on :