Chorus :
D Bm
I'm a ditchcrawler dreamer
G A
Not a poser, nor schemer
G A D
Not a vagabond, wastrel or cheat
Bm G A
I drift through the land, tiller in hand
G A D
See the best in the folk that I meet
F#m Bm
Life's propellor may churn
G A
But through each twist and turn
Bm A D
Let worries drift off in your wake
F#m Bm
Banish workaday blues
G A
Take a spirit fuelled cruise
G A D
And delight in the friendships you make
It's not the state of your boat
Nor the cut of your coat
Which determines your value or worth
But by utterance and deed
Make other boaters concede
You're a waterway salt of the earth
When breakdown occurs
Your emotions are stirred
'Til there's help from some passer by
Their random kind act
Will leave your faith intact
So "three cheers" for the unsung good guy
When you're down in the lock
And your partner's up top
But is struggling to open the gate
You hear chatter and cheer
Then the lock gate swings clear
'Cos some strangers have added their weight
You will soon drift away
As your boat gently sways
But of peace there is no guarantee
So avoid towpath louts
And boaters who shout
We don't want any argy bargee
Boats that pass on the right
May be ships in the night
You may see them again or may not
But don't pass and ignore
Establish some brief rapport
Remember, courtesy costs not a lot
© I H Bruce 2018
The term ‘ditchcrawler’ is often applied to those who navigate the inland waterways and I had the
expression ‘ditchcrawler dreamer’ in my head for some time before writing this song. As someone
who is prone to complain about aspects of boating just as much as the next man (perhaps more
than some) I felt I ought to try to emphasise some of the more positive aspects of being a boater.
Ditchcrawler Dreamer