Ralph McTell – Barges (Guitar)

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1.   Me and my brother returned to the water,          

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    I saw a pike that was two feet long.

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    Two small magicians, each with a jam jar

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    cast spells on the water with hazel twig wands.

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2. Country boys catch tadpoles, dive into water,

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    made shy by their laughter, we wondered down stream.

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    And summer rolled o'er us with          no complications,

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    sat          thinking of Mama,       sometimes in dreams.

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3. Stand by the drawbridge waiting for barges,

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    waiting around for smiles from the man.

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    Lifting the bridge whilst       watching the horses,

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    dragging the slow boats up the canal.

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4. I do remember the times but no number,

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    after the day, but before evening comes.

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    Waiting for castles and       kettles with roses,

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    painted on barges that sailed into the sun.

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   Oh see the river run, that was by man begun

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   Open the lock, let the boats sail on

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   Taking their castles and kettles with roses   

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   And summers of childhood leaving smiles on the man