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The Boatman’s Cure

[ Roud - ; George Ward]

John Roberts sang The Boatman’s Cure on his 2007 CD Sea Fever. He noted:

My friend and neighbour George Ward wrote The Boatman’s Cure, based on research he did on the history of the «bateau», the vessel used along the Mohawk River for exploration and trade in the 18^th century.

Paul Downes sang The Boatman’s Cure in 2013 as the title track of his WildGoose album The Boatman’s Cure. He noted:

A song from George Ward of New York State. It is a testament of an expedition to the higher reaches of the Mohawk River in 1792. It was an endeavour that eventually led to the opening of the Erie Canal. The hard life of a boatman poling the «bateaux» through the weeds, like a punt, was ameliorated by vast amounts of alcohol. Thanks to Joe Stead for bringing back John Roberts’ recording from the US and to the rest of Kimber’s Men for not wanting to do it, allowing me to be the first person to sing it in the UK—probably!

Lyrics

John Roberts sings The Boatman’s Cure

Poling up the river in a three-hand boat,
𝄆 Too deep to carry, too shallow to float. 𝄇
If it doesn’t lift your spirits it’ll leave you numb
𝄆 Best cure for the river is a bottle of rum. 𝄇

Listen to the forwarder struttin’ on the quay,
He’s 𝄆 quick to tell the boatman how the river will be. 𝄇
If it doesn’t lift your spirits it’ll leave you numb
𝄆 Best cure for the forwarder’s a bottle of rum. 𝄇

Workin’ up the rift the current swung her round,
𝄆 Bedbugs swum ashore, poor boatman nearly got drowned. 𝄇
If it doesn’t lift your spirits it’ll leave you numb
𝄆 Best cure for bedbugs is a bottle of rum. 𝄇

Sweatin’ in the heat of day, chillin’ in the rain,
𝄆 Sleepin’ in the open got the ague again. 𝄇
If it doesn’t lift your spirits it’ll leave you numb
𝄆 Best cure for the ague is a bottle of rum. 𝄇

Frostbite in November took my toes away,
𝄆 Devil take the blackfly ’bout the last week in May. 𝄇
If it doesn’t lift your spirits it’ll leave you numb
𝄆 Best cure for the blackfly is a bottle of rum. 𝄇

Sweet Annie from Schenectady, she stole my heart,
𝄆 Her face is in the firelight, the river sings her part. 𝄇
If it doesn’t lift your spirits it’ll leave you numb
𝄆 Best cure for a woman is a bottle of rum. 𝄇

I got a callus on my shoulder and my hands are raw,
𝄆 Sweetest sight some thirsty frontier girl ever saw. 𝄇
If it doesn’t lift your spirits it’ll leave you numb
𝄆 Best cure for wisdom is a bottle of rum. 𝄇

I fought all through this wilderness in ’59
𝄆 Still fancy I see shadows moving time after time. 𝄇
If it doesn’t lift your spirits it’ll leave you numb
𝄆 Best cure for shadows is a bottle of rum. 𝄇

Now morning comes up early for a fast bateau,
𝄆 Shoulder to the setting pole, you push off and go. 𝄇
If it doesn’t lift your spirits it’ll leave you numb
But 𝄆 there ain’t no cure for living in a bottle of rum. 𝄇