When the weather is fine, and you know it's the time
For messin' about on the river
If you take my advice, there's nothing so nice
As messin' about on the river
There are long boats and short boats and all sort of craft
And cruisers and keel boats and some with no draft
So take off your clothes and hop in the boat
Go messin' about on the river
There are boats made from kits that'll reach you in bits
For messin' about on the river
Or you might like to scull in a glass-fibre hull
Just messin' about on the river
There are tillers and rudders and anchors and cleats
And ropes that are sometimes referred to as sheets
With the wind in your face, there's no finer place
Than messing about on the river
There are skippers and mates and rowing club eights
Just messing about on the river
There are pontoons and trots and all sorts of knots
For messing about on the river
With inboards and outboards and dinghies you sail
The first thing you learn is the right way to bail
In a one-seat canoe, you're the skipper and crew
Just messing about on the river
There are bridges and locks and moorings and docks
When messing about on the river
There's a whirlpool and weir that you mustn't go near
When messing about on the river
There are backwater places all hidden from view
And quaint little islands just a-waiting for you
So, I'll leave you right now to cast off your bow
You go messing about on the river
