The Lonely Lock-Keeper by Steve Black (2024) Recorded by Uncle Pleb (Steve Black and James Dennis) There once was a lonely lock-keeper Who lived on the Bosley drop He managed the locks the live long day The only reward a meagre pay Yes, all for a meagre pay Chorus : Windlass the sluice gates open Lower the barges down Laden with coal for Manchester That city of renown Lever the lock gates open Setting the cargo free Dreaming of life away from here A cottage by the sea In truth, though, he wasn't quite alone His daughter still lived with him He doted upon her day and night And dreaded the day she might take flight He dreaded she might take flight Chorus Then one sunny morn, astride his barge The handsomest sort of guy In no time at all he'd caught her eye And, oh, what ensued was sigh on sigh I tell not a word of lie Chorus And so, dearest daughter, come the morning I must give thee away My heart brims with joy, and yet my dear I beg of you daughter, stay oh stay I'm begging you both to stay! Chorus The following day who should arrive? The groom's wealthy widowed mother Such beauty he'd seen but in his dreams The feeling was mutual, so it seems And instantly they were lovers Chorus Two weddings took place on that fine day The lock-keeper's mind was set Not one more day off work for me I'm heading for the sea, the sea With my wife and my family Chorus The twelve locks at Bosley lie a few miles south of Macclesfield and can lay claim to being some of the most picturesque in the country. Built in 1830 there were two lock-keepers in attendance who lived in cottages at the top (beside lock 1) and part-way down beside lock 11. More details of the history of the canal can be found on the Macclesfield Canal Society website. Just a couple of miles further north of Macclesfield the canal passes through Bollington, the home of the long-running Bollington Folk Club which meets in the Dog and Partridge. The current club hosts are the writer of this song, Steve Black, and James Dennis his musical partner in Uncle Pleb. James and Steve kindly recorded the song specially for inclusion on this site. Many thanks to them.
The Lonely Lock-Keeper by Steve Black (2024) Recorded by Uncle Pleb (Steve Black and James Dennis) There once was a lonely lock-keeper Who lived on the Bosley drop He managed the locks the live long day The only reward a meagre pay Yes, all for a meagre pay Chorus : Windlass the sluice gates open Lower the barges down Laden with coal for Manchester That city of renown Lever the lock gates open Setting the cargo free Dreaming of life away from here A cottage by the sea In truth, though, he wasn't quite alone His daughter still lived with him He doted upon her day and night And dreaded the day she might take flight He dreaded she might take flight Chorus Then one sunny morn, astride his barge The handsomest sort of guy In no time at all he'd caught her eye And, oh, what ensued was sigh on sigh I tell not a word of lie Chorus And so, dearest daughter, come the morning I must give thee away My heart brims with joy, and yet my dear I beg of you daughter, stay oh stay I'm begging you both to stay! Chorus The following day who should arrive? The groom's wealthy widowed mother Such beauty he'd seen but in his dreams The feeling was mutual, so it seems And instantly they were lovers Chorus Two weddings took place on that fine day The lock-keeper's mind was set Not one more day off work for me I'm heading for the sea, the sea With my wife and my family Chorus The twelve locks at Bosley lie a few miles south of Macclesfield and can lay claim to being some of the most picturesque in the country. Built in 1830 there were two lock-keepers in attendance who lived in cottages at the top (beside lock 1) and part-way down beside lock 11. More details of the history of the canal can be found on the Macclesfield Canal Society website. Just a couple of miles further north of Macclesfield the canal passes through Bollington, the home of the long-running Bollington Folk Club which meets in the Dog and Partridge. The current club hosts are the writer of this song, Steve Black, and James Dennis his musical partner in Uncle Pleb. James and Steve kindly recorded the song specially for inclusion on this site. Many thanks to them.
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