They Just Don't Build Bridges Like They Used To...

[catamariner]

They Just Don’t Build Bridges Like They Used To - Heather L. Preston 2022
(use the Em alternative shown in line 3 around every second or third verse...!)

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Twenty thousand years ago there was a land bridge, when ice upon the continents did lie

And people took their working dogs across it, spreading through the-Americas by and by

They [Em] hunted and they traveled though Ber[G]ingia, and [D] up and down the coasts that were ice-[G]free

Eight thousand years from then, the waters rose again, and the Bering wasn’t what it used to be!

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Oh they just don’t build bridges like they used to

When glaciers melt, low-lying lands get hid

No, they just don’t build bridges like they used to

And I’m star-ting to think they never did!

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The Romans they built the Pons Fabricius, / ‘way back in 62 BC(E)

It carries traffic still across its arches, and never fell, which just impresses me!

800 years before in Smyrna, Turkey, the Ker-van Koprusu spread its arch

With traffic every day, it doesn’t even sway, don’t bother breaking step when on the march!

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Oh they just don’t build bridges like they used to

They built it fast and well, as Senate bid

No, they just don’t build bridges like they used to

It’s been near 2000 years now since they did!

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In 1806 Ponte das Barcas was an engineering marvel of Porto

They linked up - some 20 boats with cables, and across the Douro River they would go!

But in three years, along came old Napoleon, attacking that city, on a spree

And 4000 drowned when that bridge went down, / overloaded when they tried to flee

 

CH: :                       G  C  D  G  twice

Oh they just don’t build bridges like they used to

They built it fast and used the lowest bid

No, they just don’t build bridges like they used to

And I’m star-ting to think they never did!

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In 1845 out in Great Yarmouth, a fine suspension bridge was hung on chains

Then a circus clown came drifting in a washtub, the onlookers all started changing lanes

They’d crowded to one rail to watch him coming, then to the other side they’d quickly zoom

So as he doffed his cap, the well-torqued chains did snap, and those upon that bridge then  met their doom  CH

 

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On an iron suspension bridge in 1850, the storm winds lashed 500 troops in France,

Across the Pont Basse-Chaine and through that windstorm, they marched along, the bridge did sway and dance

They tried to stagger step but with the swaying, they found themselves too often still in sync

The resonance’ driving power collapsed one iron tower, and half the troops were drownded in the drink.  

CH:                       G  C  D  G  twice

Oh they just don’t build bridges like they used to

They built it fast and used the lowest bid

No, they just don’t build bridges like they used to

And I’m star-ting to think they never did!

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The bridge that once spanned Tacoma Narrows was built upon an elegant new design

They opened Galloping Gert in 1940, and hoped that in the winds she’d do just fine!

But only four short months into her service, on a windy, bright and fine November day

The drivers left their cars, and fled those bucking spars, as the oscillations carried Gert away!    CH

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When Kirk-said they could detach the saucer section, the crew were all relieved that he did not

But in TNG it was easily accomplished, which would have given hives to Mr. Scott!

Way back in the old starship Discovery, they’d sported tech advanced beyond Kirk’s ken,

But only ten years on, those high-tech toys were gone: no “normal” bridge-detaching saucers then!     CH

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When they said “write a song on building bridges,” I thought of friendship, music, teeth and pool

[humming a non-bridge for 2.5 lines] – bridges can be cruel!   CH

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Got more verses but this is getting ridiculous… H