One of my favourite canal songs is about the only serious one that Dave Blagrove has written "WHEN THE CHESTNUTS BLOOM IN FLOWER".
^^
It's five in the morn, an hour before dawn,
And the frost it liming the bank.
I'm down in the engine 'ole dipping the sump,
And pumping the fuel to the tank.
Then it's swing on the handle, compression taps drop,
And let her run up to full power.
It's just the same way on a morning in May
When the chestnuts bloom in flower.

When the chestnuts bloom in flower,
When the chestnuts bloom in flower,
It's just the same way on a morning in May
When the chestnuts bloom in flower.

It's a cold winters night, I run by the light,
Of Waddington's headlamp the moon.
My for-end is breaking a thin skim of ice,
And I reckon she'll thicken up soon.
The going is slow, there's two miles to go,
And the boozer there shuts in an hour.
But it's just.........

A wet Autumn day, we've been hours on the the way,
And I'm feeling knobbed-off with me mates.
we're towing the butty uphill through the locks,
With a hundred foot line round the gates.
Me overcoat's soaked, the brasses are dull,
And the motor's aground on a slough.
But it's just.........

A fine day in July, when the bright swallows fly,
And the dragon-flies flit in the reeds.
But I'm laid on the counter, poking the blades,
Coz the bloody things blocked up with weeds.
Then the cut starts to boil, as the thunder-rain drops,
Lets hope that it's only a shower.
But it's just.........


I've probably slightly changed Dave's original words since I first learnt it - right after Dave sang it in public for the first time at "Bridge 61" Foxton Locks. I've accompanied him on guitar on many occasions since that first time.

I should have the tune at home, I'll try and post it if anyone's interested.

BTW - Does anyone know how things are going at Foxton. The last time I was up there (with the Admiral and his lady and I think, Leadfingers), the plans to knock down the old buiding and replace it with a new Beefeater-style gin palace were all going ahead. Tony Matts was always keen on a session im the old place - does anyone know what the score is now ?