The Great Ships Lyrics

Tannahill Weavers The Great Ships

In the city of Glesga 'twas aye oan the kerds
If ye lived near the river ye'd work in the yerds
The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes
Were the muckle great cranes that reached up tae the
skies

Chorus (after each verse):
Where we built the great ships of iron and steel
The Lizzies, the Mary, we built them right here
We built the great ships, the pride o' the sea
And noo there is nae work for me
And who wid believe that we built the great ships?

At the end o' the forties apprenticed was I
Tae the cream of the welders by the name o' MacKay
"Ye've twa lugs and ane gob so listen, nae lip
And I'll show youse young lads how we build the great
ships"

At the end o' the sixties the hale thing jist died
We had marches an' work ins, my God, how we tried
There was nae need for highly skilled craftsmen like me
They build ships for damn all in Japan and Korea

There's scarcely a ship and blessed few men
As the river runs silent through Silicon Glen
For an auld clapped oot welder ye'll no get much thanks
Noo there's fish in the river and chips oan its banks

Of iron and steel
The Lizzies, the Mary, we built them right here
We built the great ships, the pride o' the sea
And noo there is nae work for me
And who wid believe that we built the great ships?