PADDLE YOUR OWN CANOE
(19th Century English Music Hall song -
Lyrics: Harry Clifton / Music: Charles Coote Jr.)


Harry Clifton - 1864
Fred French - 1865
The Wolfe Tones - 1964
Don Spencer - 1978
Tommy Tune (feat. in the U.S. Musical "Busker Alley") - 1995
Jim Dale - 2006



I've travelled about a bit in me time
Of troubles I've seen a few
I found it far better in every clime
To paddle my own canoe

My wants they are small, I care not at all
If my debts they are paid when due
I drive away strife from the ocean of life 
And paddle my own canoe

Then love your neighbour as yourself
As the world you go travelling through
And never sit down with a tear or a frown
But paddle your own canoe

I have no wife to bother my life
No lover to prove untrue
The whole day long I laugh with a song 
And paddle my own canoe

I rise with the lark and from daylight to dark
I do what I have to do
I'm careless in wealth, I've only my health 
To paddle me own canoe

Then love your neighbour as yourself
As the world you go travelling through
And never sit down with a tear or a frown
But paddle your own canoe

It's all very well to depend on a friend
That is if you've proved him true
But you'll find it better by far in the end
To paddle your own canoe

To borrow is dearer by far than to buy
A maxim though old, still true
You never will sigh if you only will try 
To paddle your own canoe

Then love your neighbour as yourself
As the world you go travelling through
And never sit down with a tear or a frown
But paddle your own canoe

Should a hurricane rise in the midday skies
And the Sun is lost to view
Move steadily by with a steadfast eye
And paddle your own canoe

The daisies that grow in the bright green fields
Are blooming so sweet for you
So never sit down with a tear or a frown
But paddle your own canoe

Then love your neighbour as yourself
As the world you go travelling through
And never sit down with a tear or a frown
But paddle your own canoe



(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - March 2018)