When the grimy ships go down,
Down the river to the sea
Dirty decks and funnels brown,
When the grimy ships go down
Through the smoking, dusty town,
I watch them from the southern quay,
When the grimy ships go down,
Down the river to the sea.
When the lofty ships go down,
Down the river to the sea,
Old bent sailors spit and frown,
When the lofty ships go down,
And, stamping feet and scratching crown,
Tell long rambling tales to me,
When the lofty ships go down,
Down the river to the sea.