With five hatches, a Woodbine funnel -
"Fire! Fire! Shovel in the coal!"
Her Plimsole line's above her gunnel;
The ash pit's full - "Shovel in the coal!"
The ash pit's full - "Shovel in the coal!"

With a fire-tube boiler, a-condensing -
"Fire! Fire! Shovel in the coal"
Triple expansion compound engine,
Smash the clinker! "Shovel in the coal!"
Smash the clinker! "Shovel in the coal!"

She's no greyhound, no Cunarder -
"Fire! Fire! Shovel in the coal!"
Firing her is a damn sight harder!
Watch on watch! "Shovel in the coal!"
Watch on watch! "Shovel in the coal!"

Carries grain, coal or bricks, sir -
"Fire! Fire! Shovel in the coal!"
Would even sail the River Styx, sir -
If the charter's right. "Shovel in the coal!"
If the charter's right. "Shovel in the coal!"

Cheap coal full of shale and slate, sir -
"Fire! Fire! Shovel in the coal!"
It won't fire, and clogs the grate, sir;
The strum box's choked! "Shovel in the coal!"
The strum box's choked! "Shovel in the coal!"

Flies a smoke-stained old Red Duster -
"Fire! Fire! Shovel in the coal!"
She keeps going 'cause we trust her -
Our black gang shouts, "Shovel in the coal!"
Our black gang shouts, "Shovel in the coal!"

She's a long haul, black hulled, British tramp, sir -
"Fire! Fire! Shovel in the coal!"
Owned by Ropners, King, or Bank, sir,
Or London Greeks - "Shovel in the coal!"
Or London Greeks - "Shovel in the coal!"

Tramps (Chantey for Steam)

Words by Ron Baxter and tune by Chris Lock
As sung by Fore & Aft

She's a long haul, black hulled, British tramp, sir -
"Fire! Fire! Shovel in the coal!"
Owned by Rop-ners, King, or Bank, sir,
Or London Greeks - "Shovel in the coal!"

With five hatches, a 'woodbine' funnel -
"Fire! Fire! Shovel in the coal!"
Her Plimsole line's above her funnel;
The ash pit's full - "Shovel in the coal!"

With a fire-tube boiler, a-condensing -
"Fire! Fire! Shovel in the coal"
Triple expansion compound engine,
Smash the clinker! "Shovel in the coal!"

She's no greyhound, no Cunarder -
"Fire! Fire! Shovel in the coal!"
Firing her is a damn sight harder!
Watch on, watch off! "Shovel in the coal!"

Carries grain or coal or bricks, sir -
"Fire! Fire! Shovel in the coal!"
Would even sail the River Styx, sir -
If the charter's right. "Shovel in the coal!"

Cheap coal full of shale and slate, sir -
"Fire! Fire! Shovel in the coal!"
It won't fire, and clogs the grate, sir;
The strum box's choked! "Shovel in the coal!"

Flies a smoke-blacked old Red Duster -
"Fire! Fire! Shovel in the coal!"
She keeps going 'cause they trust her -
Her 'black gang' who "Shovel in the coal!" (2X)