Were the gang
Who shovel hills of coal
The liner boss
He owns our soul
We shift it from the quay
Down to the hold
Of the ships that run
On steam and coal
Of the ships that run
On steam and coal
With shovels and with picks
From early morn
We take the line
The gaffers drawn
Calling names he takes the roll
For the ships that run
On steam and coal
For the ships that run
On steam and coal
Many’s the girl
That I’ve let down
I’ve been drunk
In every bar in town
And I know that I’ll be lonely
When I’m old
‘Cos my heart runs
On steam and coal
My heart runs
On steam and coal
How I long to be
That engineer
Sailing those ships
From there to here
But I’m stuck here digging
In this damn hole
And my heart runs
On steam and coal
My heart runs
On steam and coal