In Steam

by Buz Collins

boat

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5 o'clock this morning I woke up with the crew
An hour 'til departure and plenty still to do
A bottle for the firebox till the coal it starts to gleam
And in five and forty minutes there's a hundred pound of steam

The boiler's warming nicely so I go round with the oil
Watch the sight glass closely as the water starts to boil
Hitch her to the butty and cast off both the lines
The day is just now breaking as the sun it starts to shine

Chorus :
And we're in steam, in steam
See the smoke arising, see the faces beam
To be in steam, in steam
Feel the pistons pounding, oh isn't it a dream
To be in steam, in steam, in steam

We head our of the basin, leave the city road behind
One pull on the bell now as the water starts to whine
Riding over bridge holes and breezing round the bends
Climbing up the lock flights with the help of all our friends

A long blast on the whistle and the way ahead is clear
Many miles to go now for our destination's near
Soon we'll tie our lines up and tuck into some grub
And after that no doubt another evening in the pub

The boiler's cooling slowly as the pressure starts to fall
Clean the firebox out and throw the ash over the wall
Close the doors and hatches, put the shafts and cans away
Just a few hours sleep before another working day
A song about the ex Fellows, Morton and Clayton steam narrowboat 'President' which was bought and restored by the Black Country Living Museum in 1983. More details can be found on the website : www.nb-president.org.uk

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