Lyrics transcribed by Chris Bragg and Geoff Grainger from a recording by Gary & Vera Aspey
1. Now I've been a boatman for most of me life, I've travelled the country on through. Seen the grouse on the moor of Saddleworth Way, watched trains thunder past out of Crewe.
Chorus With me Bolinder beating a steady old thump and there's smoke drifting out of the stack. We head through the Potteries then on up North, take a load on and then go on back.
2. I've loaded with pig-iron outside Bilston Town and coal out of Bridgewater's mine, I have legged it through Blisworth with ten tonne of salt, at Northwich dropped boatloads of pine.
Chorus
3. I've basked in the sun on the Middlewich run and laid up when weather were wet, Run from Braunston to Lymm in wild winter gales in order to win a small bet.
Chorus
4. I remember the day of the wagon and horse, unloading from ships under sail, Been from Somerset to London and then on to Goole, from there I crossed over to Wales Chorus
5. Now I am a boatman, of that I am proud, I've worked long and hard for me pay. With the cargoes she's carried the timbers now creak but the Bolinder's still pumping away. Chorus
I had a single bolinder and she was a fine machine She used to run like hell in the night when all her parts were clean I lit her up one morning at the bottom of Ichington Ten She pulled around the Basket Bound before she fired again
And then she burned a gallon a stroke Titty-fa-la, titty-fa-lay You could see sod-all for smoke Titty-fa-la, titty-fa-lay The motor went so fast I wound her up full blast She pulled out the butties mast Titty-fa-la, titty-fa-lay
Tra, lah, la-la-la-lah Smackin' it into the cut.
Oh do you ken Old Streeters Men, the ones with heads of teak They take a load, of D.S. down the jam-hole once a week I was standing on the inside along the Langley wide When I sees a pair of boats a-come with half-an-inch a side
I said "Good God! just look at that boat Titty-fa-la, titty-fa-lay
When I first saw my Rosie, my heart flew like a bird Our eyes met at Braunston Junction, smiled but ne'r spoke a word I watched, as she drifted on the lock-side, like a swan on Tixall Wide Her hair, was plaited like a fender, head held up, so full of pride
Roses and castles, hearts and flowers Counting the days, counting the hours
I asked for her hand in marriage and to her father we did run But he'd vowed, that when she married, it would be to a Number One My heart fell, when he started speaking, then Rosie, she held the floor "I'll wed this man or no other, till then I'll work the cut no more"
Roses and castles, hearts and flowers Counting the days, counting the hours
I swore, that to this place I'd not travel, not to see her work on the land I may leave here a company man, but worthy will return to take her hand She said, she would wait for me, there, each and every Whitsun Day Years passed, and I would hear tell, of my Braunston Belle, from all who passed that way
Roses and castles, hearts and flowers Counting the days, counting the hours
In time a Number One, I became, 'The Rosie' and the butty 'Ben' Turned south, upon the 'Shroppie' for to see my Rosie again As I passed, all the boat's would cheer, bright ribbons and bunting flew They cleared all the flights for me, for it seemed the whole country knew
Roses and castles, hearts and flowers Counting the days, counting the hours
The next time, I saw my Rosie, my heart flew like a bird Our eyes meet a Braunston Junction, smiled but ne'r spoke a word I watched as she drifted on the lock-side, like a swan on Tixall Wide Dressed in white, in all her splendour, as she walked on to be my bride
Roses and castles, hearts and flowers Counting the days, counting the hours