Me first day in the shipyard the gaffer says to me
I want ye to go to the store lad and get a few things ye see
Now here's a list can ye read lad Can ye read it back to me
And me and the boys'll listen while were having wah morning tea
Now reading was me pride when I left school at fourteen
There wouldn't be no problem here I'd show them I was keen
But when I starts to reading they just couldn't hold their mirth
Hugging themselves and spluttering like they was giving birth
First off a brace of sky hooks and a packet of nail holes neat
And then three cans of tartan paint and that's me task complete
The gaffer pats me on the head and sends me on me way
He says Don't come back empty handed lad or I'll have to dock yr pay
So I gets to the store all nervous and the quartermaster's there
I pulls the list out of me pocket and I starts to read all square
Well I hadn't barely finished when the store-man's face turns red
He gives me such an evil look I thought I'd soon be dead
First off a brace of sky hooks and a packet of nail holes neat
And then three cans of tartan paint and that's me task complete
The store-man swipes me on the head and sends me on me way
With a kick in the arse for me efforts and such was my first day
I gets back home that evening and me mother says to me
How was it son How was your day Sit down and have some tea
I told her of the list I'd read and the trouble I was in
I couldn't go back tomorrow or the gaffer'd have me skinned
First off a brace of sky hooks and a packet of nail holes neat
And then three cans of tartan paint and that's me task complete
Me mother swipes me on the head and sends me on me way
With a kick in the arse for me efforts and such was my first day