Misc Traditional – The Firemans Song (Guitar)

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Chords

[Verse 1]
Em                 D
Whenever you see a train go by

C                   *       Em
Or hear an engine's whistle cry

Em                      D
Think of the man on the old footplate

C                    *       Em
Shovelling coal, the driver's mate.
[Chorus]
G              D
A loco fireman is my grade

C             *     Em
Boiling water is my trade

G                    D
The driver thinks he runs the show

C                        *           Em
But if I'm not there the train won't go.
[Verse 2]
Em                 D
Heaving coal for a hungry fire

C                *         Em
Sweating cobs to get steam higher.

Em                       D
Of the collier's harvest that I burn

C                    *        Em
With toil and sweat, my wages earn.
[Chorus]
G              D
A loco fireman is my grade

C             *     Em
Boiling water is my trade

G                    D
The driver thinks he runs the show

C                        *           Em
But if I'm not there the train won't go.
[Verse 3]
Em                    D
The driver sits there like a god

C                    *    Em
A decent mate but an idle sod.

Em                        D
Though I'll be shovelling on my knees

C                     *      Em
Still he'll sit there at his ease.
[Chorus]
G              D
A loco fireman is my grade

C             *     Em
Boiling water is my trade

G                    D
The driver thinks he runs the show

C                        *           Em
But if I'm not there the train won't go.
[Verse 4]
Em                      D
The pick and shovel are tools of my trade

C                      *         Em
And two strong arms to swing the blade.

Em                  D
Hands with palms as hard as leather

C                  *          Em
And nimble feet as light as a feather.
[Chorus]
G              D
A loco fireman is my grade

C             *     Em
Boiling water is my trade

G                    D
The driver thinks he runs the show

C                        *           Em
But if I'm not there the train won't go.
[Verse 5]
Em               D
One day a driver I will be

C                      *       Em
Of the pick and shovel I'll be free.

Em                  D
Until that day I'll shift the coal

C                    *         Em
Raising steam so the train can roll.
[Chorus]
G              D
A loco fireman is my grade

C             *     Em
Boiling water is my trade

G                    D
The driver thinks he runs the show

C                        *           Em
But if I'm not there the train won't go.
************************************ | * = open chord ************************************