Only Remembered
by Phil Underwood*
Fading away like the stars in the morning,
Losing their light in the glorious sun.
Thus shall we pass from this earth and its toiling,
Only remembered for what we have done.
Only remembered, only remembered,
Only remembered for what we have done.
Thus shall we pass from this earth and its toiling,
Only remembered for what we have done.
Horseboats and men, bonnets and braces
Travelling the cut 'til the long day be done
Where are they now, those weather-lined faces?
Only remembered for what we have done.
Only remembered, only remembered,
Only remembered for what we have done.
Thus shall we pass from this earth and its toiling,
Only remembered for what we have done.
Will the rose wither, the castle lie ruined?
The tunnels collapse when the work is all gone
Boats lying sunken, the lock gates all rotten
Only remembered for what we have done.
Only remembered, only remembered,
Only remembered for what we have done.
Thus shall we pass from this earth and its toiling,
Only remembered for what we have done.
Where are the horses, where are the boatmen?
Where are the reasons canals were begun?
Shall we forget them, neglect our traditions?
Only remembered for what we have done.
Only remembered, only remembered,
Only remembered for what we have done.
Thus shall we pass from this earth and its toiling,
Only remembered for what we have done.
* This song is based on one familiar to many through the stage production of War Horse. The song - originally a
Horatius Bonar / Ira Sankey hymn from the 19th century, was arranged by John Tams for the War Horse production. It is
now widely used in remembrance of those who fell in the Great War.
Award winning folk/roots musician Phil Underwood is a British singer/songwriter and playwright. Instead of being at
the National Waterways Museum for the Easter Boat Gathering 2020, Phil and Denise (DryWood) performed a number of
original songs celebrating the traditions and heritage of the English canals from their canal boat as a video recording
which can be viewed in full here. The video above is a recording of just this one song.
As a canal boatman, Phil Underwood is passionate about the canal system, its history and the communities that live
and work on it. He his head of the theatre company Bonnet and Belt which has produced a number of shows about the
canals. Phil Underwood is a canal boatman, playwright, actor/musician, singer/songwriter and performer of traditional
music. He is passionate about the canal, its history and the communities that live and work on it.
Only Remembered
by Phil Underwood*
Fading away like the stars in the morning,
Losing their light in the glorious sun.
Thus shall we pass from this earth and its toiling,
Only remembered for what we have done.
Only remembered, only remembered,
Only remembered for what we have done.
Thus shall we pass from this earth and its toiling,
Only remembered for what we have done.
Horseboats and men, bonnets and braces
Travelling the cut 'til the long day be done
Where are they now, those weather-lined faces?
Only remembered for what we have done.
Only remembered, only remembered,
Only remembered for what we have done.
Thus shall we pass from this earth and its toiling,
Only remembered for what we have done.
Will the rose wither, the castle lie ruined?
The tunnels collapse when the work is all gone
Boats lying sunken, the lock gates all rotten
Only remembered for what we have done.
Only remembered, only remembered,
Only remembered for what we have done.
Thus shall we pass from this earth and its toiling,
Only remembered for what we have done.
Where are the horses, where are the boatmen?
Where are the reasons canals were begun?
Shall we forget them, neglect our traditions?
Only remembered for what we have done.
Only remembered, only remembered,
Only remembered for what we have done.
Thus shall we pass from this earth and its toiling,
Only remembered for what we have done.
* This song is based on one familiar to many through the stage
production of War Horse. The song - originally a Horatius Bonar / Ira
Sankey hymn from the 19th century, was arranged by John Tams for
the War Horse production. It is now widely used in remembrance of
those who fell in the Great War.
Award winning folk/roots musician Phil Underwood is a British
singer/songwriter and playwright. Instead of being at the National
Waterways Museum for the Easter Boat Gathering 2020, Phil and
Denise (DryWood) performed a number of original songs celebrating
the traditions and heritage of the English canals from their canal
boat as a video recording which can be viewed in full here. The
video above is a recording of just this one song.
As a canal boatman, Phil Underwood is passionate about the canal
system, its history and the communities that live and work on it. He
his head of the theatre company Bonnet and Belt which has
produced a number of shows about the canals. Phil Underwood is a
canal boatman, playwright, actor/musician, singer/songwriter and
performer of traditional music. He is passionate about the canal, its
history and the communities that live and work on it.
