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Tracks: 1. running out of time 2. making good time 3. house of cards 4. Blue Goose Saloon 5. swill 225 6. boatmen 7. Seldom Seen and his macho crew 8. the only tune Liam played 9. funky old town 10. what happened to this world 11. any old man 12. edge of town 13. guy like me |
boatmen Listen to sample
For a number of years, Trudy and I have been privileged to accompany a commercial float trip on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon as musicians with Moki Mac River Expeditions. One of the many pleasures of that trip has been getting to know the boatmen - the river guides responsible for making the trip happen. Our first time on the trip, we were amused at the array of rules and procedures that the boatmen use to make everything go smoothly - we weren't used to camping and traveling with 25 other people, but you do need some sort of system when trying to herd that many people around. How to pee, how to use the toilets, when to eat, when to hike, how to behave in the boats, a little bit of enforced personal hygiene; it was all new for somebody to be telling us how to do that, so it seemed only natural to poke a little fun at the guys with this song. Trudy came up with many of the lyrics one day when everybody was off on one of the hikes.
Will – guitar, fiddle, vocals, harmony vocalsLyrics:
Chorus:
We are the Boatmen we suffer no fools
We are the Boatmen and these are the rules
Wash the mud off your sandals and get in the boat
Do up your life vest, that's right you won't float
Don't ask stupid questions, just bail out the floor
And when you climb out, don't step on the oar
Chorus
We know what we're doing, you haven't a clue
If you're lucky we'll find you some lame task to do
Don't volunteer help, you incompetent fools
Just stay out of the way and follow the rules
Chorus
We'll lead you on hikes up high canyon walls
You're awkward and clumsy, we'll make sure you don't fall
We know you'd get lost, so we'll help you back down
It's a steep twisting trail, and this ain't your downtown
Chorus
When you hear "Hot Coffee" get your butt out of bed
Do you think you can manage to get yourself fed
We'll do the rowing, the cooking and such
Wash your plate and fork, or is that asking too much?
Chorus
Wash off your hands before we have grub
But no soap in the streams for the poor humpback chub
Pick up your garbage, don't piss in the sand
In fact, don't piss anywhere up on dry land
Chorus
Morning and evening are the times to go crap
We really don't care for a mid-day mishap
We'll stop if we have to, but mark our words
We'll make you pay for your untimely turds
Chorus
