C
Once there was a barge lad
F C
Way up atop the mast
C
Shouting to the skipper
G
"We've made it home at last"
C
Well, I was that barge lad
F C
Way up atop the mast
C
Now I'm the skipper and that young nipper
G C
Had better be holding fast
[Chorus 1]
C F
So we load it down, with bails so high
Am
You've got to lean backwards
G
If you want to see the sky
C
Oh, the Thames may forgive us
F C
But the Auld never will
C G C
So eyes front and away we sail
[Verse 2]
C
Oh, you've got to be able
F C
Way up atop the mast
C
Your legs better be nimble
G
And your head better think fast
C
Well, I was that able
F C
Way up atop the mast
C
Now I'm the skipper and that young nipper
G C
Is hearty enough to last
[Chorus 2]
C F
So we load it down, with bails so high
Am
You've got to lean backwards
G
If you want to see the sky
C
Oh, the Thames may forgive us
F C
But the Auld never will
C G C
So eyes front, keep your head and away we sail
[Verse 3]
C
Oh, you've eyes like an eagle
F C
Way up atop the mast
C
Spotting all the obstacles
G
That come across your path
C
Well, I was that eagle
F C
Way up atop the mast
C
But now I'm the skipper and that young nipper
G C
Will keep us from taking a bath
[Chorus 3]
C F
So we load it down, with bails so high
Am
You've got to lean backwards
G
If you want to see the sky
C
Oh, the Thames may forgive us
F C
But the Auld never will
C G C
So eyes front, keep your head, clear your throat, and away we sail
[Verse 4]
C
Oh, you've got to remember
F C
Way up atop the mast
C
Knowing all the river routes
G
That you never learned from the charts
C
Well, I do remember
F C
Way up atop the mast
C
But now I'm the skipper and not young nipper
G C
Is taking the rivers to heart
[Chorus 4]
C F
So we load it down, with bails so high
Am
You've got to lean backwards
G
If you want to see the sky
C
Oh, the Thames may forgive us
F C
But the old never will
C C C C
So eyes front, keep your head, clear your throat, know your way,
C C C G C
fill your pipe, grab on tight, look for the lights and away we sail
