The Lunatic Boaters
by Bill Heyes
Recorded by Gordon Macdonald
For we are the lunatic boaters
Who really think boating is fun
Out in rain, hail and snowstorm
And sometimes occasional sun
From the long leafy pounds of the Shroppie
To the funny top locks on the Macc
And the big heavy gates on the Grand Union
We know we will always be back
We try to say boating is restful
But we are only kidding ourselves
As we paint and we fit out the inside
And hit our heads on the shelves
Some like boating on rivers
Like the Avon and Severn and Trent
But others would follow the contours
Where the canal is certainly bent
But the water it acts like a magnet
And draws us back year after year
Despite the antics of B.W.
Who try to make boating too dear
For we are the lunatic boaters
Who really think boating is fun
Out in rain, hail and snowstorm
And sometimes occasional sun
This poem was written by the late Bill Heyes who owned narrowboat 'Tinkerbelle' which was the several times
winner of the Best Dressed Boat at some of the early Ashton Rallies. Bill and his boat turned up, much to his surprise,
on a rather colourful 500-piece jigsaw.
The song was passed on to me by his brother-in-law Gordon Macdonald who added a tune and premiered it at
Bollington Folk Club in September 2018. This is the recording which can be heard here. My thanks to Gordon for this.
The Lunatic Boaters
by Bill Heyes
Recorded by Gordon Macdonald
For we are the lunatic boaters
Who really think boating is fun
Out in rain, hail and snowstorm
And sometimes occasional sun
From the long leafy pounds of the Shroppie
To the funny top locks on the Macc
And the big heavy gates on the Grand Union
We know we will always be back
We try to say boating is restful
But we are only kidding ourselves
As we paint and we fit out the inside
And hit our heads on the shelves
Some like boating on rivers
Like the Avon and Severn and Trent
But others would follow the contours
Where the canal is certainly bent
But the water it acts like a magnet
And draws us back year after year
Despite the antics of B.W.
Who try to make boating too dear
For we are the lunatic boaters
Who really think boating is fun
Out in rain, hail and snowstorm
And sometimes occasional sun
This poem was written by the late Bill Heyes who owned
narrowboat 'Tinkerbelle' which was the several times winner of the
Best Dressed Boat at some of the early Ashton Rallies. Bill and his
boat turned up, much to his surprise, on a rather colourful 500-piece
jigsaw.
The song was passed on to me by his brother-in-law Gordon
Macdonald who added a tune and premiered it at Bollington Folk
Club in September 2018. This is the recording which can be heard
here. My thanks to Gordon for this.
