Lyr/Chord Req: The Boys That Broke the Ground

Subject: Chord Req: to join the Forth and Clyde
From: GUEST,Fergus
Date: 19 Mar 03 - 08:24 AM

Can anyone help with the chords for, We`re the boys who broke the ground to join the Forth and Clyde. It`s driving me nuts!

Fergus

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BOYS THAT BROKE THE GROUND (B McNeil)
From: Sorcha
Date: 19 Mar 03 - 09:39 AM

Well, I found the lyrics, (see below) but no chords. Sorry.


THE BOYS THAT BROKE THE GROUND
by Brian McNeil
Although Brian was also a key member of the Battlefield Band from Scotland, he recorded this song on his solo "Unstrung Hero" album. It's an uplifting tribute to the "navvies" who constructed the canal crossing Scotland from the Firth of Forth to the Firth of Clyde. Enjoy, and raise a glass to the working men and women everywhere who make life what it is.

If you're a thinking man at all it stands to reason
That the Clydesdale and the cart have had their day
Though they've served the country well for many's the season
Oh the narrow boats did take their trade away.
But to float a barge's keel you need the muscle sweat and steel
Of a thousand navvies working on the line:

With our picks all on our shoulders and our shovels by our side
We're the boys that broke the ground to join the Forth and Clyde!

We had Geordies at the sides of Donegal men
We had bothy lads from Breekin and Montrose
We had highlanders from Bleevin and Bredalbean
Who'd start the morn with whiskey in their brews
But from Dublin or Dundee, every mother's son agreed
That the work would make you old before your time:

With our picks...

Oh we dug the cut from Grangemouth up to Boland
From the German Sea to the Carren Foundry door
Oh the faster they could bring the ore and coal in
And the better they could make their cannon roar
But to watch the waters run when the digging was all done
Was a sight I'd walk a thousand miles to see:

With our picks...

So come all you thinking men whate'er your station
If you marvel at the works of engineers
Drink a health unto the navvies of the nation
And the way they've changed your fortune o'er the years
Jamaica rum and Baltic herring
The bonnie shawl your lady's wearing
All came travelling down our broad canal:

With our picks...

Subject: RE: Chord Req: to join the Forth and Clyde
From: Sorcha
Date: 19 Mar 03 - 10:35 PM

Chords, anyone?

Subject: RE: Chord Req: to join the Forth and Clyde
From: GUEST,Fergus
Date: 20 Mar 03 - 04:31 AM

Thanks for the words,saves me taking them from a tape. Still having a bad time trying to get the tune set in my mind and then transferred to guitar.Help must be out there somewhere.
Still hopefull
Fergus

Subject: RE: Chord Req: to join the Forth and Clyde
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 20 Mar 03 - 04:41 AM

Perhaps someone should add a new verse celebrating the opening of the The Falkirk Wheel which has now reconnected the Forth and Clyde and Union Canals into a through route.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: The Boys That Broke the Ground (McNeil)
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 17 Nov 17 - 04:21 AM

On Unstrung Hero CD
here http://www.brianmcneill.co.uk/store.htm?

Subject: RE: Chord Req: The Boys That Broke the Ground (McNeil)
From: GUEST,Ian Hendrie
Date: 17 Nov 17 - 06:33 AM

Thanks for the link.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: The Boys That Broke the Ground (McNeil)
From: GUEST,Ian Hendrie
Date: 17 Nov 17 - 07:10 AM

The Boys that Broke the Ground has now been added to the Songs of the Inland Waterways website.

Anybody know of any more waterway/canal songs not already listed?

Subject: RE: Chord Req: The Boys That Broke the Ground (McNeil)
From: GUEST,Ian Hendrie
Date: 17 Nov 17 - 07:11 AM

This is such a good song I'll try to work out the chords and will post them if I succeed.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: The Boys That Broke the Ground (McNeil)
From: GUEST,rewster
Date: 18 Nov 17 - 09:50 AM

I think it's brose (porridge), not brews.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: The Boys That Broke the Ground (McNeil)
From: Ian Hendrie
Date: 19 Nov 17 - 10:50 AM

Thanks rewster. That makes sense, I'll change it.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: The Boys That Broke the Ground (McNeil)
From: Ernest
Date: 20 Nov 17 - 01:34 PM

Here are the Chords from the Battlefield Band`s songbook:


If you're a thin- (C)king man at (G) all it stands to (D)rea- (G)son
That the (G)Clydesdale and the (D)cart have had their (G)day
Though they've (C)served the country (G)well for many's the (D)sea- (G)son
Oh the (G)narrow boats have ta-(D)ken their trade a- (G)way.
But to (Em)float a barge's keel you need the mu- (D)scle sweat and steel
Of a (G)thousand navvies working on the (C)line:

With our (G)picks all (D)on our shoulders (C)and our (G)shovels by our (C)side
We're the boys that (G)broke the ground to (D)join the Forth and (G)Clyde!

Subject: RE: Chord Req: The Boys That Broke the Ground (McNeil)
From: GUEST,Ian
Date: 21 Nov 17 - 12:36 PM

Thanks for that Ernest.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: The Boys That Broke the Ground (McNeil)
From: Ernest
Date: 21 Nov 17 - 01:18 PM

You`re welcome, Ian!

Subject: RE: Chord Req: The Boys That Broke the Ground (McNeil)
From: GUEST,TFguest.
Date: 21 Nov 17 - 02:17 PM

There are so many mistakes in that lyric sheet I'd advise you to start from scratch.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: The Boys That Broke the Ground (McNeil)
From: GUEST,Ian Hendrie
Date: 21 Nov 17 - 04:38 PM

Perhaps TFguest might like to point out the errors in this?

If you're a thinking man at all it stands to reason
That the Clydesdale and the cart have had their day
Though they've served the country well for many's the season
Oh the narrow boats have taken their trade away.
But to float a barge's keel you need the muscle sweat and steel
Of a thousand navvies working on the line:

With our picks all on our shoulders and our shovels by our side
We're the boys that broke the ground to join the Forth and Clyde!

We had Geordies at the sides of Donegal men
We had bothy lads from Brechin and Montrose
We had highlanders from Beauly and Breadalbane
Who'd start the morn with whiskey in their brose
But from Dublin or Dundee, every mother's son agreed
That the work would make you old before your time:

With our picks...

Well we dug the cut from Grangemouth up to Bowling
From the German Sea to the Carron Foundry door
For the faster they could bring their ore and coal in
Oh the better they could make their cannon roar
And to watch the waters run when the delving was all done
Was a sight I'd walk a thousand miles to see:

With our picks...

So come all you thinking men whate'er your station
When next you marvel at the works o' engineers
Drink a health unto the navvies of the nation
And the way they've changed your fortune o'er the years
For Jamaica rum and Baltic herring, the bonnie shawl your lady's wearing
All came travelling down our broad canal:

With our picks...

Subject: RE: Chord Req: The Boys That Broke the Ground (McNeil)
From: GUEST,Ian Hendrie
Date: 21 Nov 17 - 04:50 PM

After a couple of modifications my best version can be found here :

www.waterwaysongs.co.uk/boys_that_broke_the_ground.htm