Barge Ballad

Barge Ballad is the opening track of Written in Salt. This song is a Longest Johns original , written by Josh Bowker, who originally also sang lead on it. Since his departure from the band, JD usually leads the song.
The chorus is cumulative, with the list of instructions in the last line growing with each iteration.
==Lyrics==
Once there was a barge lad
(Way up atop the mast)
Shouting to the skipper,
"We've made it home at last!"
Well I was that barge lad 
(Way up atop the mast)
But now I'm the skipper and that young nipper
Had better be holding fast
{Chorus}
Oh we're loaded down with bales so high,
You've got to lean backwards if you want to see the sky
Oh the Thames may forgive us, but the Alde never will
So eyes front
And away we sail
Oh you've got to be able,
(Way up atop the mast),
Your legs better be nimble
And your head better think fast
Well I was that able 
(Way up atop the mast)
But now I'm the skipper and that young nipper
Is hearty enough to last
{Chorus}
So eyes front
Keep your head
And away we sail
Oh you've eyes like an eagle
(Way up atop the mast)
Spotting all the obstacles
That come across your path
Well I was that eagle
(Way up atop the mast)
But now I'm the skipper and that young nipper
Will keep us from taking a bath
{Chorus}
So eyes front
Keep your head
Clear your throat
And away we sail
Oh you've got to remember
(Way up atop the mast)
Knowing all the river routes
That you never learn from the charts
Well I do remember
(Way up atop the mast)
But now I'm the skipper and that young nipper
Is taking the rivers to heart
{Chorus}
So eyes front
Keep your head
Clear your throat
Know your way
Fill your pipe
Grab on tight
Look for the lights
And away we sail
==Recordings==
====Streaming/Purchase====
*Amazon Music (Written in Salt version)
*Amazon Music (Commodore 1864 version)
*Apple Music/iTunes (Written in Salt version)
*Apple Music/iTunes (Commodore 1864 version)
*Bandcamp (Written in Salt version)
*Deezer (Written in Salt version)
*Deezer (Commodore 1864 version)
*Pandora (Written in Salt version)
*Pandora (Commodore 1864 version)
*Spotify (Written in Salt version)
*Spotify (Commodore 1864 version)
====Youtube Videos====
*Written in Salt version
*Commodore 1864 version
====Gig Videos====
*The Longest Johns - Festival Maritim Bremem Vegesack (17 Aug 2019)
*Kraków, Poland (26 Feb 2023)
====Full Band Streams====
*The Longest Johns Impromptu Singing Stream! (17 Nov 2018)
*The Longest Johns and Friends, February Edition (New donation system) (27 Feb 2019)
*It’s hot! Stream was a bad choice… Or was it? (24 Jun 2020)
*Welcome to the Live Stream, We’ve got Fun and Sings! (22 Jul 2020)
*100k Subscriber Thank You Stream (19 Aug 2020)
*Boulevard of Broken Streams (17 Feb 2021)
*Sweet Streams are Made of This (17 Mar 2021)
*Nice Stream Sundae (Wednesday) (1 Sept 2021)
*Stream Girls (27 Apr 2023)
====Gaming Streams====
*Sea of Sings (and probably thieves) - 26/06/2020
*Sea of Sings. Tonight we hit the high C’s… - 10/7/2020
*Boat! Boat! Boat! Boat! Boat! - 21/08/2020
*It’s Sea of Sings! Featuring Krotukk! Huzzah! - 28/08/2020
*Yarr harr fiddley dee and all that. Sea of Sings! - 28/09/2020
*SHANT! - 02/10/2020
*Sea of Thieves? Singing? Splendid! - 09/10/2020
*Sailing, Wailing and Failing with Captain Falcore! - 19/10/2020
*DROPS! Sea of Sings! with BehavingBeardly! SHANT! - 30/10/2020
*Sea of Sings! Welcome to the Shantydome! - 6/11/2020
*Sea of Sings! Let’s get splashy! - 12/02/2021
*Sea of Sings! Boats and stuff! 15/02/2021
*Giveaway giveaways - Let’s get in the sea - 01/03/2021
*Give it away, give it away, give it away now! | Sea of Sings - 15/03/2021
*We give you drops, we give pirates treasure, we give you GIVEAWAYS! - 22/03/2021
*Shanties?!?! On the sea?!?! Why yes it is… With Krotukk and Kharites_ - 02/04/2021
*Sing what you want ‘cause a streamer is free, You Are A Streamer! - 02/08/2021
*Ah For Just One Time, I would Sing and Sail in Sea of Thieves! - 23/08/2021
*Set feet, Kro! Set feet, Kro! Set feet, Kro! Set feet, Kro! - 03/09/2021
*Pirate stuff GO! - 24/09/2021
*Two SoT streams in one week?!? What is this, 2020? - 01/04/2022
Category:Longest Johns Originals
Category:Songs
Category:Written in Salt
Category:Josh_Songs
Category:JD Songs
Category:Commodore 1864