The Stroudwater Navigation
Come, since the day’s for joy design’d,
Let all cares be left behind,
And universal pleasure bind!
Adieu to all vexation;
No more let fears and doubts prevail,
Nor our hopes and spirits fail,
For though we see not yet the sail,
We have the Navigation.
Let Thames, the Trent, the Severn know,
Each stream which in the world doth flow,
There various stores of traffic show,
With envious exaltation;
But now no more; their triumph vain,
This inland borough will maintain
Its fame, & still unrivall’d reign
Secure by Navigation.
And thanks to Wallbridge since ‘tis perform’d,
The poor will now be clothed and warmed,
‘Gainst wintry winds & tempest arm’d,
Snug in their habitation;
The old & young with equal joy
Will raise their voices to the sky
And children yet unborn will cry
Bless Stroudwater Navigation.
The rising wharf we soon shall see,
And commerce wide extended be,
From inland Stroud unto the sea,
And far remotest nation;
The freight’d bark with merchandise,
And hardy tars to steer the prize,
Will oft returning glad our eyes,
Through Stroudwater Navigation.
Thy lofty spire shall wondering tell,
Recording History too shall spell
To distant days thy fame & swell
The world with admiration;
For long as Stroud Scarlet’s name shall be
To future ages told, you’ll see
This borough flourish great & free,
And boast her Navigation.
The peopled streets will now increase,
The town will smile, & trade ne’er cease,
Tho’ war be wag’d, or if at peace,
We traffic thro’ the nation;
Who’s then so blest, or so secure?
We feed the hungry, cloth the poor,
Of never ending commerce sure,
By the Stroudwater Navigation.
Let ev’ry heart true pleasure feel,
On this occasion show her zeal,
Her wishes for the public weal,
Whatever be her station;
Prepare her bumper, nor delay
In chorus now to sing & say,
Stroud for ever, & shout “Hooray”
For the Stroudwater Navigation.
(Adapted from Grantham Navigation in Strike the Bell – transport songs selected and edited by Roy Palmer, CUP, 1978.)