Ballad of the Beale Boat Race
Words and music by Joe Ficklin © 19 Sep 2002

A D On the sixth day of September, two thousand and two A E They set off from shore in their cardboard canoe A D Some said "you must be crazy, to build a cardboard boat A E A Do you really think that thing is gonna float?" CHORUS D A Will it float? Cardboard boat? Do I sound a sour note? D E Will it go down, will they drown? Will they leave a final quote? A D Will they survive as they strive to make it home alive? A E A Will it float, cardboard boat? Will it float? Janelle sat in back while in the front was Beth And anyone who messed with them would face a painful death Shoving out to sea at eleven twenty-eight Heading for their rendezvous with fate CHORUS They dug in with their paddles, the results were amazing That cardboard boat became an instant cardboard submarine The top became the bottom as the two girls were thrown free The engineer peered from the shore and said "Oh! Now I see!" CHORUS It was the Beale regatta, they hold it every year As Air Force squadrons build a boat then come to race and cheer Using cardboard and some duct tape just before they drain the pool On the last day of the summer before school CHORUS Out of all the entries entered from this quiet Air Force base (That's two, you know) Beth and Janelle came in at second place Some said they must be crazy, why else would they do it? But for the honor of the squadron and Major Pruitt CHORUS