Ballad Of Waitaki (1967) (video)

A - D

D G

1. Rippling waters of Waitaki sing your song of power to me,

A E A

sing of tall distance mountains, Mackenzie lakes so free.

D G

Tell of how the men have tamed you, hear the turbines’ giant roar,

A D

listen to your waters lapping in the penstocks at Benmore.

D G

So flow on again Waitaki on your journey to the sea,

A D

making power for all New Zealand, better life for folks like me.

+ A - D

D G

2. And when Benmore lake you’re filled and the generators spun

A E A

flow on again great river to where another works begun,

D G

Flow on down through the valley where the cattle graze no more,

A D

where a dam is in the making at a place called Aviemore.

D G

So flow on again Waitaki on your journey to the sea,

A D

making power for all New Zealand, better life for folks like me.

+ A - D

D G

3. But the men who build the hydros, and the men who make the dams,

A E A

are the men who drive the dozers, pour the concrete, draw the plans.

D

From many towns they’ve journeyed,

G

and from many schemes they’ve come

A D

to work here in the outback, and to see the job is done.

D G

So flow on again Waitaki on your journey to the sea,

A D

making power for all New Zealand, better life for folks like me.

+ A - D

D G

4. Now listen surging waters as you reach Pacific shore,

A E A

and your meeting with the breakers makes the oceans roar.

D G

Tell of more tomorrows when your turbines you will play,

A D

and praise the great Waitaki, you will hear the people say.

D G

So flow on again Waitaki on your journey to the sea,

A D

making power for all New Zealand, better life for folks like me.

A D

+ Making power for all New Zealand, better life for folks like me.

(orig. = capo 2nd) (The Plainsmen)