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One of the better songs about our waterways is "When the Chestnut Blooms in Flower" by David Blagrove (lyrics below from 'Songs of the Inland Waterways' website). One thing puzzles me - Why is the moon referred to as Waddington's headlamp? Any suggestions? It's five in the morn, an hour before dawn, And the frost is riming the bank. I'm down in the engine hole dipping the sump, And pumping the oil to the tank. Then it's swing on the handle, compression taps drop, And let her run up to full power. It's just the same way on a morning in May When the chestnut bloom's in flower. When the chestnut bloom's in flower, When the chestnut bloom's in flower, It's just the same way on a morning in May When the chestnut bloom's in flower. A wet Autumn day, we've been hours on the way, And I'm feeling knobbed-off with me mates. We're towing the butty uphill through the locks, With a hundred foot line round the gates. The brasses are dull and me overcoat's soaked,, And the motor's got fast on a scour But it's just......... A cold winters night, I run by the light, Of Waddington's headlamp, the moon. Me fore end is bosting a thin skim of ice, And I reckon t'will thicken up soon. The going is slow, there's two miles to go, And the boozer there shuts in an hour. But it's just......... A day in July, when the bright swallows fly, And dragonflies dart in the reeds. I'm laid on the counter, poking the shaft, 'Cos the blessed things blocked up with weeds. The cut starts to boil as the thunder rain drops, Lets hope that it's only a shower. But it's just......... And what does 'fast on a scour' mean?
