Raise Up Your Glasses
by Sue Lee and John Meleady
Recorded by Keepers Lock
Here's a help to the navigator, big strong and tall
Our thanks is to him now for starting it all
Through famine it caused him to forfeit his land
And seek for employment with a rough navvy band
Chorus :
So raise up your glasses to canal workers all
Our thanks is to you now for starting it all
Raise a glass to boat builders, honest and true
Their skill as the carpenters known well to you
For without their fine narrowboats we'd be stuck in a rut
Not masters of the waterways, king of the cut
And cheers to the artists and boat painters too
With their pots of bright colours, paints: red, green and blue
Transforming our working boats roses galore
And castles to dream about on every door
Good luck to the company who does us employ
For we owes them our loyalty each man and boy
For they finds us our loads and they pays us our fee
There's many a man grumbles but no that's not me
To the blacksmith and the farrier, we wish good health
Though its from every boater that he makes his wealth
Well our fine working horses he keeps them well shod
Sure footed and steadfast the towpaths they plod
To lock keepers and tollmen, we raise a glass
To the landlord and publican, even his lass
And to all honest tradesmen along the canal
Who water and feed us and treat us right well
To the fine honest lengthsmen, we doff our cap
All credit to him for preventing mishap
Looking after our waterways, keeping them clear
Dedicated to the country and jobs they hold dear
Now charge up your glasses with good ale and beer
And we'll drink a fine toast to each boatman here
For we're all honest fellows, narrowboatmen with pride
Kings of the waterway stand side by side
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