Show some respect on this deck for the dear departed
Gather ye's round let's be bound by the work we started
Save all your strength for the length of the task before us
Think on that ship on the slipway they can't ignore us
It's what he would have wanted he'll not be disappointed
Each of us well appointed we've all but been anointed
Such was our occupation this means of our salvation
We'll make a rope out of our dreams and hopes and tribulations
We'll weave these strands together we'll splice a rope and tether
And though we won't know whether it's fair or stormy weather
We'll quit this quay
And we'll cast this net of souls upon the sea
Pick up your tools we're not fools to be treated lightly
We'll weld our souls to the bulkheads secure them tightly
We'll use the skills and the crafts that our fathers taught us
We work with pride not as slaves no one ever bought us
We'll weave a net of our dreams and our hopes between us
We'll be the envy of that sorry bunch who'll wish they'd been us
We'll form a web of steel a structure that will not be broken
We'll be the heroes of the day whenever tales are spoken
And as the dance gets faster we'll build a double master
No vessel will outlast her no other ship gets past her
We'll quit this quay
And we'll cast this net of souls upon the sea
Come strike the floor with your feet all you lads and lasses
And if you're too old to dance you can raise your glasses
Just come on in take a spin in your dreams ye've held her
What are ye Man or a mouse or a shipyard welder
Shy bairns get nowt for waiting so why ye hesitating
Ships don't get built debating or launched just contemplating
Wear out your old shoe leather we're in this dance together
We'll pull the blades and feather in fair or clement weather
Each one of us connected all trades and skills respected
Always to be expected we will not be deflected
We'll quit this quay
And we'll cast this net of souls upon the sea
Na na na na na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na
Na na na na la la la
La la la la la la la
Show some respect fill the deck get the lassies twirling
'Cos they expect to be swept off their feet and whirling
Life is a dance a romance where ye take your chances
Just don't be left on the shores of regretful glances
We may not drive Rolls Royces we're hardly spoilt for choices
If we're to pay invoices we'll need to raise our voices
Our strength is in communion this boilermakers' union
The shipwright welders' guilds with every working station filled
These bonds we've spliced together will face all kinds of weather
Considered altogether and sailing Hell for leather
We'll quit this quay
And we'll cast this net of souls upon the sea
Where will you be
When we cast this net of souls upon the sea