What Have We Got?

(album: The Last Ship - 2013)

Good people give ear to me story
Pay attention, and none of your lip
For I've brought you five lads and their daddy
Intending to build ye's a ship
Wallsend is wor habitation
It's the place we was all born and bred
And there's nay finer lads in the nation
And none are more gallantly led

What have we got, but the buzzer in the morning?
Aye, and what have we got, but the laying of a keel?
And what have we got, but the cranes above us soaring?
The commotion and the clamour in the welding of the steel?

What have we got, but the mist upon the river?
Tell me, what have we got, but the noise inside the hold?
Oh, what have we got, but the arse end of the weather?
Where we work in horizontal rain, and shiver in the cold

What do ye got? (What do we got?)
What do ye got? (What do we got?)
You've got nowt. We've got nowt else

What do ye got? (What do we got?)
What do ye got? (What do we got?)
You've got nowt. We've got nowt else

What have ye got, but the singing in the cables?
Oh, what have ye got, but the ringing in your ears?
Aye, what have ye got, but the telling of the fables?
And the memories of the ships, that we've been building donkey's years

What do ye got? (What do we got?)
What do ye got? (What do we got?)
You've got nowt. We've got nowt else

What do ye got? (What do we got?)
What do ye got? (What do we got?)
You've got nowt. We've got nowt else

Aye, you've got to die of something
It's written in your fate
Ye may as well die of a Tuesday
And woe betide you're late

What have ye got, all you men what's fit and able?
What have ye got, for the straining in your neck?
What have ye got, when you're laid out on the table?
And the snapping of a cable when the rigging hits the deck?

What have ye got, but the loyalty of brothers?
What have ye got, but this union of the dock?
What have ye got, a bacon sandwich from your mother?
Not a promise of another with the punching of the clock

What do ye got? (What do we got?)
What do ye got? (What do we got?)
You've got nowt. We've got nowt else

What do ye got? (What do we got?)
Now, what do ye got? (What do we got?)
You've got nowt. We've got nowt else

What do ye got? (What do we got?)
What do ye got? (What do we got?)
You've got nowt. We've got nowt else