C
Once there was a barge lad
F               C
Way up atop the mast
C
Shouting to the skipper
       G
"We've made it home at last"

      C
Well, I was that barge lad
F               C
Way up atop the mast
C
Now I'm the skipper and that young nipper
    G                 C
Had better be holding fast

[Chorus 1]

      C                  F
So we load it down, with bails so high
       Am
You've got to lean backwards
       G
If you want to see the sky
        C
Oh, the Thames may forgive us
        F         C
But the Auld never will
   C              G       C
So eyes front and away we sail

[Verse 2]

           C
Oh, you've got to be able
F               C
Way up atop the mast
C
Your legs better be nimble
         G
And your head better think fast

C
Well, I was that able
F               C
Way up atop the mast
C
Now I'm the skipper and that young nipper
   G                C
Is hearty enough to last

[Chorus 2]

      C                  F
So we load it down, with bails so high
       Am
You've got to lean backwards
       G
If you want to see the sky
        C
Oh, the Thames may forgive us
        F         C
But the Auld never will
   C                              G       C
So eyes front, keep your head and away we sail

[Verse 3]

           C
Oh, you've eyes like an eagle
F               C
Way up atop the mast
C
Spotting all the obstacles
     G
That come across your path

C
Well, I was that eagle
F               C
Way up atop the mast
C
But now I'm the skipper and that young nipper
     G                     C
Will keep us from taking a bath

[Chorus 3]

      C                  F
So we load it down, with bails so high
       Am
You've got to lean backwards
       G
If you want to see the sky
        C
Oh, the Thames may forgive us
        F          C
But the Auld never will
   C                                                   G       C
So eyes front, keep your head, clear your throat, and away we sail

[Verse 4]

           C
Oh, you've got to remember
F               C
Way up atop the mast
C
Knowing all the river routes
         G
That you never learned from the charts

C
Well, I do remember
F               C
Way up atop the mast
C
But now I'm the skipper and not young nipper
   G                    C
Is taking the rivers to heart

[Chorus 4]

      C                  F
So we load it down, with bails so high
       Am
You've got to lean backwards
       G
If you want to see the sky
        C
Oh, the Thames may forgive us
        F         C
But the old never will
   C           C               C                  C
So eyes front, keep your head, clear your throat, know your way, 
C               C              C                       G       C
fill your pipe, grab on tight, look for the lights and away we sail