Show Some Respect

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