On a clear day in January I was born

Goodbye, old man, goodbye

And I cut my teeth in a thunderstorm

Goodbye, old man, goodbye.

In February snow when I was a lad

I sailed up Swin along with me day

He was the best skipper a barge ever had

Goodbye, old man, goodbye.

Oh, goodbye, old man, goodbye.

When the strong March winds began to blow

Goodbye, old man, goodbye

I was the third hand down below

Goodbye, old man, goodbye

In April rain I earned my pay

Up on a stackie loading hay

I was London-bound on two shillings a day.

Goodbye, old man, goodbye

Oh, goodbye, old man, goodbye.

In May’s calm waters I had to wait

Goodbye, old man, goodbye

Til the coalmine gave me a job as a mate

Goodbye, old man, goodbye

We raced for a turn in flaming June

Round the Nore and in Woolwich soon

And we’d tie her up by the light of the moon

Goodbye, old man, goodbye

Oh, goodbye, old man, goodbye.

In July as a skipper I chose my crew

Goodbye, old man, goodbye

And we raced in the Thames and the Medway too

Goodbye, old man, goodbye

But the Bradwell men were hard to beat

The Veronica was the pride of the fleet

And we gave her a chase in the August heat

Goodbye, old man, goodbye

Oh, goodbye, old man, goodbye.

In warm September I took my ease

Goodbye, old man, goodbye

And I crossed the Channel with the southern breeze

Goodbye, old man, goodbye

Then October was the saddest month of all

When I lost my mate in a southern squall

As he fell overboard I could hear him call

‘Goodbye, old man, goodbye

‘Oh, goodbye, old man, goodbye.’

In November I was snug by the cabin fire

Goodbye, old man, goodbye.

And I thought I had all that my heart could desire

Goodbye, old man, goodbye

But now the cold December’s here

I’ve come to the end of a bargeman’s year

And I know the barge trade will soon disappear

Goodbye, old man, goodbye

Oh, goodbye, old man, goodbye

Oh, goodbye, old man, goodbye.