Hey,

We sung this song with my Brownies today - we heard it was written by a little girl who was about 12 and lived in Holland, she was confined to a wheelchair and couldnt get outside. It seems plausible to me as I know Holland pretty much relied on barge trade. We heard she's still alive and an adult now (but then, telling the Brownies she was dead wouldnt have been a good idea!)

But the last verse we sung had a different ending, it went:

Out of my window looking through the night
I can see the barges' flickering light
Silently flows the river to the sea
I hope one day they'll take me

Still a poignant song whatever way it's sung, I do love it