Em C D Bm
There's many a mile where through grimace you smile
C D G
As the moored boats impose a go slow
Em D Bm
Don't fear being late, just accept your fate
C D Em
And take note of what wise boaters know
G C
It's tickover time, tickover time
Em D G
A time to slow down, don't you know
Em G C
It's tickover time, tickover time
Em D Em
It's time to slow down, and let go
At the lock there's delay, so moor up, keep away
As hire boaters queue to go through
You may pity their plight, their timetable's tight
While for you tomorrow will do
In a world that's plain crazy, the future seems hazy
As politicians drown in their lies
Those ego-fuelled fools who misguide and misrule
Don't share the same values as I
Life isn't a race, so chill out, drop your pace
Take a break and breathe deep the fresh air
Beauty abounds if you just look around
So gongoozle, that is, stop and just stare
My boat is my home and wherever I roam
Simple pleasures are all that I need
So a word to the wise, don't let blood pressure rise
You'll live longer if you just kill your speed
© I H Bruce 2017
For too many moored boaters the need to shout 'Slow Down' at passing boats seems a Pavlovian
response rather than one based on observation. While shouting back or ignoring these people I
always felt that maybe I was in the wrong and could have gone slower. On my current boat there is
a setting which I select whenever I'm passing moored boats so I can be sure I am going as slow
as possible. This has given me the confidence to feel that I should be immune from criticism and
made me a happier person. I am now better able to accept that 'tickover time' is inevitable, stress-
free, and that I shouldn't even be thinking of going that tiny fraction faster. The chorus of this song
came quickly whilst cruising in the summer of 2017. The verses and tune took a little longer. The
recording is just a temporary one until I can produce better.
Tickover Time