One of my earliest childhood memories is falling asleep to the sounds of barges going up and down the Ohio River. Some of the big ones came all the way from the Gulf of Mexico. Later I crewed on the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater and learned how important “port” (left) and “starboard” (right) can be, especially when one of the huge barges is coming down river right at you! I first learned “Barges” from friends who sang it in Girl Scout circles. The chorus works well in sign language.

Song tracks: Trees of Life | Turn the World Around | The Forest is a Wonderful Place | If I Had Wings | Sap Time | Barges | Silent Huntress | Ibis the Whale | Two Different Worlds | The Animal Song | The Garden Round | Where Will We Go | The Little Prince | Zeno-ba-ba-da | Giving Tree | Activity Guide Home

Out of my window looking through the night
I can see the barges’ flickering light
Silently flows the river to the sea
And the barges they go silently...

Barges I would like to go with you
I would like to sail the ocean blue
Barges have you treasure in your hold
Do you fight with pirates brave and bold

Out of my window looking through the night
I can see the barges’ flickering light
Starboard shines green and port is glowing red
You can see them flickering far ahead... Chorus

One of these days and it will not be long
You will look for me and I’ll be gone
Face to the wind far out upon the sea
Where the whales and dolphins sing to me... Chorus

So out of my window looking through the night
I can see the barges’ flickering light
Silently flows the river to the sea
And the barges they go silently... Chorus

Listen to the sound file

Ocean Units
Like “Ibis the Whale,” this song fits in beautifully with a unit on oceans, whales, and my own book, A Symphony of Whales.  See suggestions for “Ibis the Whale.”