The Longest Johns - Barge ballad

^COnce there was a barge lad ^FWay up atop the ^Cmast ^CShouting to the skipper "We've ^Gmade it home at last"

Well, ^CI was that barge lad ^FWay up atop the ^Cmast ^CNow I'm the skipper and not young nipper Had ^Gbetter be holding ^Cfast

So we ^Cload it down, with ^Fbails so high You've ^Amgot to lean backwards If you ^Gwant to see the sky Oh, the ^CThames may forgive us But the ^Fold never ^Cwill So ^Ceyes front and ^Gaway we ^Csail

Oh, you've ^Cgot to be able ^FWay up atop the ^Cmast ^CYour legs better be nimble And your ^Ghead better think fast

^CWell, I was that able ^FWay up atop the ^Cmast ^CNow I'm the skipper and not young nipper Is ^Ghearty enough to ^Clast

So we ^Cload it down, with ^Fbails so high You've ^Amgot to lean backwards If you ^Gwant to see the sky Oh, the ^CThames may forgive us But the ^Fold never ^Cwill So ^Ceyes front, keep your head and ^Gaway we ^Csail

Oh, you've ^Ceyes like an eagle ^FWay up atop the ^Cmast ^CSpotting all the obstacles That ^Gcome across your path

^CWell, I was that eagle ^FWay up atop the ^Cmast ^CBut now I'm the skipper and not young nipper Will ^Gkeep us from taking a ^Cbath

So we ^Cload it down, with ^Fbails so high You've ^Amgot to lean backwards If you ^Gwant to see the sky Oh, the ^CThames may forgive us But the ^Fold never ^Cwill So ^Ceyes front, keep your head, clear your throat, and a^Gway we s^Cail

Oh, you've ^Cgot to remember ^FWay up atop the ^Cmast ^CKnowing is all the river It's that you ^Gnever learn from the charts

^CWell, I do remember ^FWay up atop the ^Cmast ^CBut now I'm the skipper and not young nipper Is ^Gtaking the rivers to ^Cheart

So we ^Cload it down, with ^Fbails so high You've ^Amgot to lean backwards If you ^Gwant to see the sky Oh, the ^CThames may forgive us But the ^Fold never ^Cwill C So eyes fro^Gnt, keep^C your head, clear your throat, know your way, fill your pipe, grab on tight, look for the lights and away we sail