Balance Both Tides

[Intro] [Verse 1] The river climbed the numbered stone Rain beat hard on the lockhouse pane I set my boots against the wheel While iron gates took up the strain A loaded barge leaned into the pull Its deckhands watched my hand for sign Downstream, every window held its breath As brown water crossed the warning line [Chorus] Hold her steady, hold the chain Keep the town above the rain Wait for my call, don’t let her slide I’ll balance both sides of the tide Hold her steady, brace the frame One wrong turn and all goes downstream [Verse 2] The upper gate began to shudder The lower channel boiled with silt I eased the wheel a quarter turn And felt the whole old structure tilt The barge swung wide, then found its line A rope went taut against the spray I watched the marker disappear Then raised my arm to clear the way [Chorus] Hold her steady, hold the chain Keep the town above the rain Wait for my call, don’t let her slide I’ll balance both sides of the tide Hold her steady, brace the frame One wrong turn and all goes downstream [Guitar solo] [Chorus] Hold her steady, hold the chain Keep the town above the rain Wait for my call, now let her ride The gates swing wide, the channel’s clear Hold her steady, brace the frame The town is safe; the barge is through