Narrow Lock Gates by Bill Caddick Recorded by Bill Caddick There once was boatman or so I've heard say Who plied the canals most every day One morning he came to some narrow small lock And upon the lock-keeper's door he did knock Well a fine young woman just then she looked out 'Good morning and what do you want? she did shout I've a fine load of coal and that cannot wait And I'd love to come up your narrow lock gates Well me father close guards this lock it's a fact It's his joy and his pride and he keeps it in tact And before that he left to me he did state Don't let anyone make a hole in your gates Well father's away so pay what I ask And I'll let you through and I'll help with the task I don't demand much just give me a speck Of that fine lumpy coal I see on your deck Oh father's away she said but don't fear For I'll be your guide and I'll pull you through here Keep your hand on your tiller, promise me true That you'll hold your boat back when you're half way through So he doffed his cap and away he did float And into her basin he eased his long boat And the way that he entered the lock made her roar Oh! you've been through a lock and a tunnel before At the way that she helped him he marvelled indeed And he pressed his boat in at a dangerous speed His promise forgotten, ahead he did forge And he rammed the main gates with the end of his barge Well the water poured in, the lock it ran high She was soaked through while he remained dry And seeing her thus with nothing to lose He opened the gates and this time he shot through Oh! me father will rage she cried out aloud For I've lost me main gates of which he was proud But the boatman he laughed as away he did stroll Oh I've left you a fine lump of coal in your hole And he sang as he sailed along A mildy bawdy ballad which appears to tell the tale of the lock-keeper's daughter helping the boatsman pass through the lock. Recorded on : and 'Unicorns' by Bill Caddick, Working Joe Music WJM2003 (2002)
Narrow Lock Gates by Bill Caddick Recorded by Bill Caddick There once was boatman or so I've heard say Who plied the canals most every day One morning he came to some narrow small lock And upon the lock-keeper's door he did knock Well a fine young woman just then she looked out 'Good morning and what do you want? she did shout I've a fine load of coal and that cannot wait And I'd love to come up your narrow lock gates Well me father close guards this lock it's a fact It's his joy and his pride and he keeps it in tact And before that he left to me he did state Don't let anyone make a hole in your gates Well father's away so pay what I ask And I'll let you through and I'll help with the task I don't demand much just give me a speck Of that fine lumpy coal I see on your deck Oh father's away she said but don't fear For I'll be your guide and I'll pull you through here Keep your hand on your tiller, promise me true That you'll hold your boat back when you're half way through So he doffed his cap and away he did float And into her basin he eased his long boat And the way that he entered the lock made her roar Oh! you've been through a lock and a tunnel before At the way that she helped him he marvelled indeed And he pressed his boat in at a dangerous speed His promise forgotten, ahead he did forge And he rammed the main gates with the end of his barge Well the water poured in, the lock it ran high She was soaked through while he remained dry And seeing her thus with nothing to lose He opened the gates and this time he shot through Oh! me father will rage she cried out aloud For I've lost me main gates of which he was proud But the boatman he laughed as away he did stroll Oh I've left you a fine lump of coal in your hole And he sang as he sailed along A mildy bawdy ballad which appears to tell the tale of the lock- keeper's daughter helping the boatsman pass through the lock. Recorded on : and 'Unicorns' by Bill Caddick, Working Joe Music WJM2003 (2002)