The Rose Bay Ferry

Bernard Bolan



Every morning at 8:25
Down to the Rose Bay wharf I drive
Park my Humber underneath a tree
Pop along the gangplank and then I'm free
Free says you, but how can that be?
For you always finish up at Circular Quay
So doubting Tom I shall explain
When I get on board I sing this sweet refrain

Where are we going today, Mr. Nicholson?
Where is the going to be?
Don't turn left, turn right down the harbor
And out to the open sea
Throw away your compass, right hand down
And it's out through the heads we go
So ho! let's be merry on the Rose Bay ferry
If we run out of petrol we'll row Yo Ho!
If we run out of petrol we'll row

Monday Java, Tuesday Spain
Wednesday's it's Tokyo and back again
The only trouble is, they isn't any Gents
But what do you want for 20 cents?
Off with me raincoat and me woolly vest
See the naked ladies on my chest
Today is Friday, so hold on tight
'Cause we're off to Trinidad and back tonight

Where are we going today, Mr. Nicholson?
Where is the going to be?
Don't turn left, turn right down the harbor
And out to the open sea
Pull up your anchor, pull your finger out
And wave goodbye to your home
We're off to Nantucket, so give that man a bucket
'Cause it's choppy when you're out on the foam Yo Ho!
It's choppy when you're out on the foam

Sometimes when I get up late
I only reach the jetty at half past 8
But that doesn't ruin my world-wide trip
'Cause the 8:37 is a battleship
Off on the dot with our guns on high
We mince up Manley as we pass by
If you're out of rockets, just pop upstairs
You can get 'em from the chappy who collects the fares

Where are we going today, Mr. Nicholson?
Where is the going to be?
Don't turn left, turn right down the harbor
And out to the open sea
For though we look like dudes and doctors
At heart we are men of the sea
So Ho! let's be merry on the Rose Bay ferry
Until we get to Circular Quay
We finish up at Circular Quay


From the wonderful Bernard Bolan.  In the 1970s this song reached number 1 on the charts.