The Longest Johns – Barge Ballad (Guitar)

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

      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

           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

      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

           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

      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

           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 that young nipper

   G                    C
Is taking the rivers to heart

      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