C & O Canal

Artist:  The Seldom Scene
Album:   Act 3
Writer:  John Starling
Key:     G


G   Am   C   D

G (1)
Up from the night in the shanty saloons
Am (2m)
He remembers the night of the boatman's tunes
C (4)
It's all a part of the boatman's soul
D (5)
As the smell of the dust from the Cumberland coal

G (1)
With a three-mule team he winds his way
Am (2m)
Through the Paw Paw Tunnel, about mid-day
C (4)
Passing locks in the rain and fog
D (5)
His thoughts on nights at the Salty Dog

    G (1) C (4) G (1)       D (5)
    Hey,  hey,  hey -- lock ready!
        C (4)       D (5)
    Oh, hey -- hey, lock!
    Em (6m)
    These words like the lock-house, covered in time
         D (5)
    Live on for us in an old man's mind
    C (4)                              D (5)
    Never, no more, on the C & O Canal Line
          G (1)
    Mm-mm-mm

G   Am   C   D

G
Doomed by the rail from the very start
Am
His boat still lives in the people's heart
C
We've a debt to pay and a promise to keep
D
To save his way from an endless sleep


    Repeat chorus, a capella Mm-mm-mm

Disclaimer: Although this transcription is based on the specified version, other versions and sources may have been consulted and errors made by the artist may have been corrected. Other errors should be reported to tom@begray.net.

Tom Gray's Bluegrass Songs / tom@begray.net