MESSING ABOUT ON THE RIVER (Tony Hatch / Les Reed)
Josh MacRae - 1962 Danny Kyle - 1998
When the weather is fine you know it's the time For messin' about on the river If you take my advice there's nothing so nice As messin' about on the river There's big boats and wee boats ands all kinds of craft Puffers and keel boats and some with no raft With the wind in your face there's no finer place Than messin' about on the river
There are boats made from kits that'll reach you in bits For messin' about on the river And you might want to skull in a glass fibred hull Go messin' about on the river Anchors and tillers and rudders and cleets Ropes that are sometimes referred to as sheets With the wind in your face there's no finer place Than messin' about on the river
Skippers and mates and rowing club eights All messin' about on the river Capstans and quays where you tie up with ease All messin' about on the river Outboards and inboards and dinghies you sail The first thing you learn is the right way to bale In a one man canoe you're both skipper and crew Messin' about on the river
Moorings and docks, tailors and locks All messin' about on the river Whirlpools and weirs that you must not go near Messin' about on the river Backwater places all hidden from view Mysterious wee islands just waiting for you So I'll leave you right now, go cast off your bow Go messing about on the river.