C & O Canal Line (John Starling) Up from the night in the shanty saloons He remembers the night of the boatman's tunes It's all a part of the boatman's soul As the smell of the dust Of the Cumberland coal With a three-mule team he winds his way Through the Pawpaw Tunnel, about mid-day Passing locks in the rain and fog His thoughts on nights At the Salty Dog Hey, hey, hey -- lock ready! Oh, hey -- hey, lock! These words like the lock-house, covered in time Live on for us in an old man's mind Never, no more, on the C & O Canal Line Mm-mm-mm Doomed by the rail from the very start His boat still lives in the people's heart We've a debt to pay and a promise to keep To save his way From an endless sleep Hey, hey, hey -- lock ready! Oh, hey -- hey, lock! These words like the lock-house, covered in time Live on for us in an old man's mind Never, no more, on the C & O Canal Line Mm-mm-mm Copyright John Starling JN
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!