Here's some revisions to the above draft. I've added some G7 to the melody, dropped the concept of a chorus (it's long enough without it even when done at a brisk pace), and revised some of the words (copy and paste into WORD/TIMES/12 to line up chords):


Words and tune by Charles Ipcar, © 2/26/2011
Key: F (5/C)

Steamboats Days

G-----G7-----C------------------F-----C----G
Now there's many a steamer looks just fine,
G7-F------------------------------------G
Oh, shovel in the coal and let her run!
G7----------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 we're steamin' out from the Kennebec Pier,
Oh, shovel in the coal and let her run!
Hear her whistle, loud and clear!
When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun!

Now swing her hard for the Sasanoa River,
Oh, shovel in the coal and let her run!
Keep to the channel or we're stuck here forever!
When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun!

Down the Upper Hell Gates, steady and fast,
Oh, shovel in the coal and let her run!
Don't scrape the ledge as we fly past!
When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun!

Past Hockomock Bluff and cross the Bay,
Oh, 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
Oh, shovel in the coal and let her run!
Drop off the dry goods that's ordered here –
When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun!

Now it's down the River to the Riggsville Dock,
Oh, shovel in the coal and let her run!
Where the summer folks come down in flocks –
When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun!

Through Goose Rock Passage to Five Islands Pier,
Oh, shovel in the coal and let her run!
There's barrels of salt-cod a-waiting here –
When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun!

Cross the Sheepscot, past the Middle Mark,
Oh, shovel in the coal and let her run!
Wave at the seals sunning on the rocks –
When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun!

Nose into Southport for one more stop,
Oh, shovel in the coal and let her run!
Then thread the Gut, plow through the chop –
When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun!

Now Boothbay Ha'bor's comin' into view,
Oh, shovel in the coal and let her run!
But there's so many boats, what shall we do?
When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun!

There's summer sloops sailin' all round,
Oh, 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 by the Boothbay Pier,
Oh, shovel in the coal and let her run!
Then we're off to Skip's for a round of beer!
When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun!

So there's many a steamer looks just fine,
Oh, shovel in the coal and let her run!
But they'll never beat the boats of the Eastern Line!
When we make Boothbay, we'll have great fun!

I'll see if we can record a sample next weekend.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble