Dunkirk Grim (The Little Boats of Albion)
by Matt Kenrick (2025)
Come gather round and hear the song
Of men both brave and true
Not soldiers bold, nor admirals grand
But boatmen - me and you
From Thames and Trent, from Lea and Wear
From Avon down to Plym
We left our homes, we left our trades
And sailed for Dunkirk grim
Chorus :
And it’s pull boys, pull, on the tiller tight
With a rope-burned hand and an eye for fight
Through smoke and shell, through shot and flame
We brought our boys back home again
We weren’t no fleet with polished brass
No gunships proud and grand
But working boats from muddy cuts
And tradesmen’s weathered hands
Me barge was built for coal and clay
Not bullets in the sky
But when they called for every hand
We kissed our wives goodbye
Chorus
Past burning hulls and bodies pale
Through waters thick with death
With engines coughing, canvas torn
And prayers beneath our breath
The soldiers clambered, wet and worn
With hollow, haunted eyes
And we just smiled and dragged them in
As hell fell from the skies
I saw a mate from Oxford town,
His little launch aflame
But still he steered to save his crew
And never cursed his name
And when at last we made the quay
With men both safe and sore
We tied her up with hands of blood
And then went back for more
Final chorus :
So here’s to them, the boatmen’s part
With shallow draft and brave of heart
They asked for aid and we gave them men
And brought their armies home again
No medals pinned nor glory gained
Just tales told by the old canal
But when England called, we answered plain
The little boats of Albion
This song of one of a number of excellent canal-related songs written by Matt Kenrick who has kindly provided the
lyrics. Recording to follow.
Click on the logo to download a pdf of the song as provided by Matt. This provides all the chords and playing
advice. It will open in a new window.
Dunkirk Grim (The Little Boats of Albion)
by Matt Kenrick (2025)
Come gather round and hear the song
Of men both brave and true
Not soldiers bold, nor admirals grand
But boatmen - me and you
From Thames and Trent, from Lea and Wear
From Avon down to Plym
We left our homes, we left our trades
And sailed for Dunkirk grim
Chorus :
And it’s pull boys, pull, on the tiller tight
With a rope-burned hand and an eye for fight
Through smoke and shell, through shot and flame
We brought our boys back home again
We weren’t no fleet with polished brass
No gunships proud and grand
But working boats from muddy cuts
And tradesmen’s weathered hands
Me barge was built for coal and clay
Not bullets in the sky
But when they called for every hand
We kissed our wives goodbye
Chorus
Past burning hulls and bodies pale
Through waters thick with death
With engines coughing, canvas torn
And prayers beneath our breath
The soldiers clambered, wet and worn
With hollow, haunted eyes
And we just smiled and dragged them in
As hell fell from the skies
I saw a mate from Oxford town,
His little launch aflame
But still he steered to save his crew
And never cursed his name
And when at last we made the quay
With men both safe and sore
We tied her up with hands of blood
And then went back for more
Final chorus :
So here’s to them, the boatmen’s part
With shallow draft and brave of heart
They asked for aid and we gave them men
And brought their armies home again
No medals pinned nor glory gained
Just tales told by the old canal
But when England called, we answered plain
The little boats of Albion
This song of one of a number of excellent canal-related songs
written by Matt Kenrick who has kindly provided the lyrics.
Recording to follow.
Click on the logo to download a pdf of the song as
provided by Matt. This provides all the chords and playing
advice. It will open in a new window.
