In the early 1900's small steamboats were the preferred way to travel from one part of Midcoast Maine to another. Even a small village such as Riggsville (to be renamed Robinhood in 1918) had its regularly scheduled service.

Here's a public link to my Facebook album of these steamboats: click here for Facebook images!

I was thinking about these steamboats the other night when I couldn't get to sleep because of a bad cold, and began composing verses. This morning I spent some time polishing them up and fitting a tune. So here's what we have, your navigation directions from Bath, Maine, to Boothbay Harbor (copy and paste into WORD/TIMES/12 to line up chords):

Words and tune by Charles Ipcar, © 2/26/2011

Steamboats Days


G------------C-----------------------------------F----C
Now we're steaming out from the Kenne-bec Pier,
F------------------------------------G
Shovel in the coal and let her run!
C---------------------------------G---C
Hear our whistle blow loud and clear!
-------------F---------------------------------------G
When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun!


Chorus:

G--------------C------------------------------F---C
Now there's many a steamer that runs just fine,
F------------------------------------G
Shovel in the coal and let her run!
--------------C--------------------------------------G---C
But they'll never beat the boats of the East-ern Line!
-------------F---------------------------------------G
When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun!


Now swing her hard into the Sasanoa River
Shovel in the coal and let her run!
Keep to the channel or you're stuck there forever!
When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun!

Through the Upper Hell Gates, steady and fast,
Shovel in the coal and let her run!
Don't scrape the rocks as we fly past.
When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun!

Past Hockomock Bluff and cross the Bay,
Shovel in the coal and let her run!
For Castle Island now bear away.
When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun!

Through the Lower Hell Gates to the Westport Pier
Shovel in the coal and let her run!
Unload the dry goods that are wanted there.
When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun!

Then it's down the river to the Riggsville Dock
Shovel in the coal and let her run!
Where the summer folks all wait in a flock.
When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun!

Through Goose Rock Passage to Five Islands Pier
Shovel in the coal and let her run!
There's barrels of salt-fish, standing near.
When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun!

Cross the Sheepscot past the Middle Mark,
Shovel in the coal and let her run!
Wave at the seals as they sun on the rocks.
When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun!

Nose into Southport for one more stop,
Shovel in the coal and let her run!
Then thread Townsend's Gut through the chop.
When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun!

Now Boothbay Harbor's coming into view
Shovel in the coal and let her run!
But there's so much traffic, what can we do?
When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun!

They's sailboats sailing all round,
Shovel in the coal and let her run!
And there's one off the bow upside down!
When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun!

Now we're safely moored at the Boothbay Pier,
Shovel in the coal and let her run!
And it's off to Skip's for a 'Gansett* beer!
When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun!

* Narragansett Beer was one of the oldest and cheapest beers available back then.

This song is much too long and not terribly exciting but at least now I should be able to get some sleep!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble