Biography:
Josh MacRae (17 July 1933–1977) was a Scottish folk singer. Born Iain Macrae, he called himself Josh after the blues musician Josh White.
Accompanying himself on guitar, he had two hits in Britain, "Talking Army Blues" (on Top Rank Records, in 1960) and "Messing About on the River" (Pye, 1962).
He also worked as an art teacher at Kirkland Junior High School at Methil, Scotland, in the mid sixties & seventies.
Read more on Last.fm
Other songs:
Four years of hard work!This month of May we celebrated four years on the air. We continue working on the dissemination of this wonderful instrument, thank you for participating in our story!
Capo on 5 for correct key = F
Intro = C
Verse 1
C G
When the weather is fine you know it's the time
F G C
For messing about on the river
G
If you take my advice there's nothing so nice
F G C
As messing about on the river
F C G C
There's big boats and wee boats and all kinds of craft
F C D7 G
Puffers and keel boats and some with no raft
C G
With the wind in your face there's no finer place
F G C
Than messing about on the river
Verse 2
C G
There are boats made from kits that'll reach you in bits
F G C
For messing about on the river
G
And you might want to skull in a glass fibred hull
F G C
Go messing about on the river
F C G C
Anchors and tillers and rudders and cleats
F C D7 G
Ropes that are sometimes referred to as sheets
C G
With the wind in your face there's no finer place
F G C
Than messing about on the river
Verse 3
C G
Skippers and mates and rowing club eights
F G C
All messing about on the river
G
Capstans and quays where you tie up with ease
F G C
All messing about on the river
F C G C
Outboards and inboards and dinghies you sail
F C D7 G
The first thing you learn is the right way to bale
C G
In a one man canoe you're both skipper and crew
F G C
Messing about on the river
Verse 4
C G
Moorings and docks, tailors and locks
F C
All messing about on the river
G
Whirlpools and weirs that you must not go near
F G C
Messing about on the river
F C G C
Backwater places all hidden from view
F C D7 G
Mysterious wee islands just waiting for you
C G
So I'll leave you right now, go cast off your bow
F G C
Go messing about on the river
Intro = C
Verse 1
C G
When the weather is fine you know it's the time
F G C
For messing about on the river
G
If you take my advice there's nothing so nice
F G C
As messing about on the river
F C G C
There's big boats and wee boats and all kinds of craft
F C D7 G
Puffers and keel boats and some with no raft
C G
With the wind in your face there's no finer place
F G C
Than messing about on the river
Verse 2
C G
There are boats made from kits that'll reach you in bits
F G C
For messing about on the river
G
And you might want to skull in a glass fibred hull
F G C
Go messing about on the river
F C G C
Anchors and tillers and rudders and cleats
F C D7 G
Ropes that are sometimes referred to as sheets
C G
With the wind in your face there's no finer place
F G C
Than messing about on the river
Verse 3
C G
Skippers and mates and rowing club eights
F G C
All messing about on the river
G
Capstans and quays where you tie up with ease
F G C
All messing about on the river
F C G C
Outboards and inboards and dinghies you sail
F C D7 G
The first thing you learn is the right way to bale
C G
In a one man canoe you're both skipper and crew
F G C
Messing about on the river
Verse 4
C G
Moorings and docks, tailors and locks
F C
All messing about on the river
G
Whirlpools and weirs that you must not go near
F G C
Messing about on the river
F C G C
Backwater places all hidden from view
F C D7 G
Mysterious wee islands just waiting for you
C G
So I'll leave you right now, go cast off your bow
F G C
Go messing about on the river
Josh Osho
Josh Pantana
Josh Phillips
Josh Pozzi
Josh Satterfield