Down To the Sea
At our home high up in Merthyr
There were decisions to be made
For the canals had come redundant
Since the railway lines were laid
Brunnel had come to meet us
And the loads were getting scarce
So one day our dada said to us
Its time to make our way

Chorus
Down to the sea
We will buy a coaler barge
We will save this family
Down to the sea
Out into the channel
And around the coast to Neath
We will sail for our salvation
Down to the sea

Three year’s we traded labour
With the owner of the barge
For we had no coin to offer
For the pitch or for the tar
But as winter turned to summer
She began to take her shape
So we hauled her to the water
And rigged her out with sail

So we loaded our possessions
And said our fond farewells
Took one last look at Merythr
Then Dada took the helm
Nell mule was looking nervous
And Jed donkey did his nut
But our Gran would have no nonsense
As we sailed on down the cut

After days we reached the Channel
And the barge was sitting low
But we hit the tide as hoped for
And we were carried by the flow
So we steered along the coastline
And headed for the west
When we saw the lights of Swasea
We knew we’d been blessed

We turned for Briton Ferry
Then up the river Neath
Til’ we made it to the lock gates
All smiling with relief
Our new lives lay before us
We had a contract for the coal
A house we could move in to
Now Neath would be our home

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