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An anonymous gift from a waterman on the swollen Ohio
River near Cincinnati to a songwriter flying 8,000 feet
overhead.

lyrics

Words & music A. McKnight, ©1996 Catalooch Music, BMI

Verse 1
I am a simple bargeman, I work this Ohio,
and I never really let these engines run
spend my life on the water, of this dammed muddy chocolate lake,
and I always run the locks so perfectly

No I’ve never seen the mountains, or Indian paintbrush fiery red
no I’ve not seen oceans indigo blue
I am much like this river, all pent up but mostly calm,
and flat like these waters that I’m floating on
Chorus
Though I am but a plain man, I dream of higher things
but my life is run to this engine’s rhythmic toil
and it’s coal from Kentucky, big steel from Ohio,
or the occasional tank of Texas oil
on this placid muddy water, from Queen City to Louisville
I know it better than anyone would want to
I know it better than you would want to

Verse 2
I take two weeks vacation, I spend them on my porch
in this house we built nigh on 40 years ago
there isn’t much adventure, but there isn’t any risk
cause the screens will keep the mosquitoes out
Chorus

Verse 3
when I was a child, I dreamed I’d stow away
and ride these barges to the Gulf of Mexico
now I toss my cigarette butts, with the trash that’s flowing by
floating like my dreams leaving my life behind
Chorus

Coda
I am a simple bargeman, I work this Ohio,
but I’ve never really let my engines run

credits

from Sampler Download, track released August 1, 1998
from Where This River Runs, released 01 August 1998
AM - vocals, guitar
Betsy Dake, Karin Franklin - harmony vocals
Chas Fowler - whistle
Ralph Gordon - cello

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all rights reserved

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about

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Andrew McKnight Lincoln

Nationally-acclaimed singer/songwriter and guitarist celebrates rural America, weaves masterfully crafted songs, humorous stories and poetic drama into a musical soundscape sketched with shades of Appalachia, tasteful slide and jazzy blues, feisty anthems, and rustic folk. 5 solo CDs heard on many public & community radio, plus NPR "Art of the Song" & "River City Folk" and XM/Sirius. ... more

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