D Bm G A Once I was a boating man, the northern cuts I'd roam G D Em A Now Father Time has caught me I'm compelled to stay at home G D Em A Where I rely on vloggers to recall places I have been G D A D And I cruise canals in my armchair, boating by proxy G D A D And I cruise canals in my armchair, boating by proxy There's a saucy Narrowboat Pirate, and Aussie Narrowboat Chefs Tens of thousands Cruising The Cut with a Country House Gent I follow Holly the Café Boat, also Ben and Emily I'm with them all, most every week, boating by proxy I'm with them all, most every week, boating by proxy Trapped by ice on the Llangollen or repairs to Hurleston locks Bailing water out of bilges, changing oil in the gear box It's so easy watching others solve their problems on TV From the comfort of my living room, when I'm boating by proxy From the comfort of my living room, when I'm boating by proxy Rain bounces from the cabin roof, lack of sunlight takes its toll They may be running out of water or struggle to get coal I recall my own experience of how boat winters used to be Snuggled beneath my duvet, while I'm boating by proxy Snuggled beneath my duvet, while I'm boating by proxy I'm not alone, these vloggers have followers world-wide Anglophiles and expats, they're all on-board for the ride They may crave good natured simple lives, watching boaters with envy Just fast forward through the hardships when you're boating by proxy Just fast forward through the hardships when you're boating by proxy I didn't want to write a sad song, cast off on a sour note So with Spring sun warming old bones, I'll try again to float my boat Untie all mooring shackles, become marina escapee Head off again along the cut, no more boating by proxy Head off again along the cut, no more boating by proxy © I H Bruce 2023 After significant time at home during and after the Covid pandemic I rarely got out on my boat and watched a lot of the output from canal travelling vloggers* on YouTube. It remains to be seen whether the optimistic last verse completes the story. * A vlogger is someone who makes short films (video logs or vlogs) which record thoughts, ideas, or opinions on a subject and posts them on the internet.
Boating by Proxy
D Bm G A Once I was a boating man, the northern cuts I'd roam G D Em A Now Father Time has caught me I'm compelled to stay at home G D Em A Where I rely on vloggers to recall places I have been G D A D And I cruise canals in my armchair, boating by proxy G D A D And I cruise canals in my armchair, boating by proxy There's a saucy Narrowboat Pirate, and Aussie Narrowboat Chefs Tens of thousands Cruising The Cut with a Country House Gent I follow Holly the Café Boat, also Ben and Emily I'm with them all, most every week, boating by proxy I'm with them all, most every week, boating by proxy Trapped by ice on the Llangollen or repairs to Hurleston locks Bailing water out of bilges, changing oil in the gear box It's so easy watching others solve their problems on TV From the comfort of my living room, when I'm boating by proxy From the comfort of my living room, when I'm boating by proxy Rain bounces from the cabin roof, lack of sunlight takes its toll They may be running out of water or struggle to get coal I recall my own experience of how boat winters used to be Snuggled beneath my duvet, while I'm boating by proxy Snuggled beneath my duvet, while I'm boating by proxy I'm not alone, these vloggers have followers world-wide Anglophiles and expats, they're all on-board for the ride They may crave good natured simple lives, watching boaters with envy Just fast forward through the hardships when you're boating by proxy Just fast forward through the hardships when you're boating by proxy I didn't want to write a sad song, cast off on a sour note So with Spring sun warming old bones, I'll try again to float my boat Untie all mooring shackles, become marina escapee Head off again along the cut, no more boating by proxy Head off again along the cut, no more boating by proxy © I H Bruce 2023 After significant time at home during and after the Covid pandemic I rarely got out on my boat and watched a lot of the output from canal travelling vloggers* on YouTube. It remains to be seen whether the optimistic last verse completes the story. * A vlogger is someone who makes short films (video logs or vlogs) which record thoughts, ideas, or opinions on a subject and posts them on the internet.
Boating by Proxy