Lyrics

Peggy
Show some respect on this deck for the dear departed,
Gather ye’s round, let’s be bound by the work he 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,

Peggy & Gideon
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.

Peggy & Ensemble
Come strike the floor (oooo)
With your feet (ahhh)
All you lads and lasses, (oooo)
And if you’re too old to dance you can raise your glasses, (ahhh)
Just come on in,
Take a spin, in your dreams you’ve held her (oooo)
What are ye? Man, or a mouse,

Peggy, Jackie, Gideon, Billy & Davy
Or a shipyard welder?

Company
Shy bairns get now’t 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 foul 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.

Women
Da da da da da da da da da da da da da...

Men
Da da da da da da da da da da da da da...

Women
Da da da da da da da da da da da da da...

Men
Da da da da da da da da da da da da da...

Women
Da da da da da da da...

Men
Da da da da da da da...

Women
Da da da da da da da...

Men
Da da da da da da da...

Company
Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah...

Gideon (to Meg)
Life is a dance, a romance, where ye take your chances,
Just don’t be left on the shores of regretful glances.

Company
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 boilermaker’s union,
This shipwright welder’s guild, with every working station filled.

These bonds we’ve spliced together, we’ll 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.

Peggy
Where will you be, when we cast this net of souls upon the sea?

Company
Where will you be when we cast this net of souls upon the sea?

Peggy, Jackie & Company
Show some respect on this deck for the dear departed, (Upon the sea,)
Gather ye’s round let’s be bound... (Upon the sea,)
Upon the sea...