G
I like to make em out of birch bark skins
D                      G
It keeps me dry and my stuff within
  C                G
A little pine tar, nice and thin
D
Makes a boat float just right

G
I like to brag about the perfect stroke
D                      G
I own a paddle made of aged oak
C                    G
Every maneuver I can do by rote
G           D                 G
But there s one thing I don t like


[Chorus]
G                     C             G
Don t like to put the paddle in the water
G               C              G
That would be a crazy thing to do
G               C     D      Em
I don t want to be no fishes fodder
Em              G      D     G
I don t want to tip in that canoe
G               C              G
I d rather be a dreamer on the shoreline
G                  C             G
Than a hero at the bottom of the lake
G               C      D      Em
I never put the paddle in the water
Em              G     D      G
That would be a dangerous mistake


[Verse 2]
G
I sing Allouette in Francais
D                       G
Just like the French in Hudson Bay
C                  G
I smoke a pipe and drink Beaujolais
      D
And I tell a tall tale or two

G
I know every river and portage
D                    G
And in an emergency, I know triage
C                      G
I smell a storm like a weather cock
D                            G
But there s one thing I won t do


[Chorus]
G                     C             G
Don t like to put the paddle in the water
G               C              G
That would be a crazy thing to do
G               C     D      Em
I don t want to be no fishes fodder
Em              G      D      G
I don t want to tip in that canoe
G               C              G
I d rather be a dreamer on the shoreline
G                  C             G
Than a hero at the bottom of the lake
G               C      D      Em
I never put the paddle in the water
Em              G     D      G
That would be a dangerous mistake


[Bridge]
G
I know the tensile strength of each one
G
Fiberglass or aluminum
G
I make plans and study maps
G
Draw lines across the world and back
G
I like to train on weight machines
G
Carbo-load and high protein
G
I m a fanatic, it would seem
G
But baby, I m no fool


[Chorus]
G                     C             G
Don t like to put the paddle in the water
G               C              G
That would be a crazy thing to do
G               C     D      Em
I don t want to be no fishes fodder
Em              G      D      G
I don t want to tip in that canoe
G               C              G
I d rather be a dreamer on the shoreline
G                  C             G
Than a hero at the bottom of the lake
G               C      D      Em
I never put the paddle in the water
Em              G     D      G
That would be a dangerous mistake