D  G D G  D A

[Verse]
       D
With a steady hand on the lever
        G               A
And the signal ready to pass
               G        F#m
Keep the light burning, fireman
        G                     A
And the water, well up in the glass

[Verse]
       D
With a shoulder to the rail
           G               A
There's no better place to be
         D                 G
Than the right side of the footplate
            A             D
When you're travelling by steam

[Chorus]
G     A      D                   G     A
Stand in the bight, look for the green light
G           D        Em            A
Voices that echo and ring down the line
G   A       D                      G  A
One load to shed, then homeward we tread
     G           D                 A   D    G
Till morning and the coal-boy come singing

[Verse]
   D
Me granddaddy worked in the railway
  G                     A
A bigwig, so I've heard talk
   G                F#m
Me father, he was a driver
G                 A
Travelling pit to port

[Verse]
            D
And there's no better life for a young man
     G              A
With them you must agree
            D                 G
When you're right side of the footplate
           A             D
And you're travelling by steam

[Chorus]
G     A      D                   G     A
Stand in the bight, look for the green light
G           D        Em            A
Voices that echo and ring down the line
G   A       D                      G  A
One load to shed, then homeward we tread
     G           D                 A   D    G
Till morning and the coal-boy come singing

[Verse]
  D
Tomorrow it's off up to Banbury
  G                A
A lodging turn for me
            G                F#m
Where I can lay me head on a pillow
     G                A
In a room where I can sleep

[Verse]
         D
And it's up and away in the morning
    G                   A
And wipe the clock-face clean
           D                 G
And you're right side of the footplate
           A             D
And you're travelling by steam

[Chorus]
G     A      D                   G     A
Stand in the bight, look for the green light
G           D        Em            A
Voices that echo and ring down the line
G   A       D                      G  A
One load to shed, then homeward we tread
     G           D                 A   D    G  D
Till morning and the coal-boy come singing

[Verse]
   D
So pick up yer traps and yer Tommy-box
      G                       A
We're reaching the end of the line
         G           F#m
Keep yer eye on your watch, lad
      G               A
We'll bring her in on time

[Verse]
       D
And it could have been life on the dole queue
   G                      A
Or mining for coal at the seam
           D                 G
But you're right side of the footplate
           A             D
And you're travelling by steam

[Chorus]
G     A      D                   G     A
Stand in the bight, look for the green light
G           D        Em            A
Voices that echo and ring down the line
G   A       D                      G  A
One load to shed, then homeward we tread
     G           D                 A   D    G A D
Till morning and the coal-boy come singing