I like to make em out of birch bark skins I studied how with the Indians A little pine tar, nice and thin Makes a boat float just right I like to brag about the perfect stroke I own a paddle made of aged oak Every maneuver I can do by rote But there s one thing I don t like Don t like to put the paddle in the water That would be a crazy thing to do I don t want to be no fishes fodder I don t want to tip in that canoe I d rather be a dreamer on the shoreline Than a hero at the bottom of the lake I never put the paddle in the water That would be a dangerous mistake I sing Allouette in Francais Just like the French in Hudson Bay I smoke a pipe and drink Beaujolais And I tell a tall tale or two I know every river and portage And in an emergency, I know triage I smell a storm like a weather cock But there s one thing I won t do Don t like to put the paddle in the water That would be a crazy thing to do I don t want to be no fishes fodder I don t want to tip in that canoe I d rather be a dreamer on the shoreline Than a hero at the bottom of the lake I never put the paddle in the water That would be a dangerous mistake I know the tensile strength of each one Fiberglass or aluminum I make plans and study maps Draw lines across the world and back I like to train on weight machines Carbo-load and high protein I m a fanatic, it would seem But baby, I m no fool Don t like to put the paddle in the water That would be a crazy thing to do I don t want to be no fishes fodder I don t want to tip in that canoe I d rather be a dreamer on the shoreline Than a hero at the bottom of the lake I never put the paddle in the water That would be a dangerous mistake