C G Am F
The boating day’s over, the suns setting low
C G F C
That leaves just one problem, where do we go
G Am F
There’s pubs round the corner, or so the maps show
C G F C
But which shall it be, I’m blowed if I know
G C
Is it into the Bridge or the Traveller’s Rest
F C F G
Perhaps the Bull’s Head for a pint of its best
C G Am F
But a glass of warm beer or some other libation
C G F C
Can always be found in the Old Navigation
The boating day’s over, the engine is stopped
The weed hatch is cleared and the deck has been mopped
There’s pubs near the chandlers, where once we have shopped
But which shall it be, for which should we opt?
Is it into the Ship or the Narrowboat Inn
Perhaps the Fool’s Nook for a drop of dry Gin
But a glass of warm beer or some other libation
Can always be found in the Old Navigation
The boating day’s over, the ropes are all tied
Though thoroughly soaked, I am washed and now dried
There’s pubs by the locks, so my crew all confide
But which shall it be, how do we decide?
Is it into the Wharf or the Boat or the Swan
Perhaps the Tame Otter with its Dom Perignon
But a glass of warm beer or some other libation
Can always be found in the Old Navigation
The boating day’s over, I’ve survived rain and sleet
Let’s hope for an inn with some semblance of heat
There’s pubs up the hill, so let’s not be downbeat
But which shall it be, just where can we eat?
Is it into the Cross Keys or Ye Ring O’Bells
Or make way to the Anchor for a Jack Daniels
But a glass of warm beer or some other libation
Can always be found in the Old Navigation
The boating day’s over and reality strikes
If we’re wanting a pub we must get on our bikes
There’s none to be seen though we’ve looked several times
There’s no more pub names and no more desperate rhymes
There’ll be no Jolly Sailors and no Drunken Duck
We were wanting a pint but we’ve run out of luck
There’ll be no warm beer or any other libation
There’s not even a pub called the blank Navigation
© I H Bruce 2007
All the pubs mentioned in this song did exist beside some canal or other when the song was
written but at least one, to my knowledge, has closed for good. For obvious reasons this song
has acquired another name, 'Desperate Rhymes'.
The Navigation (Pub) Song
Capo 2