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1914–18
“OH, where are you going to, all you Big Steamers, | |
| With England’s own coal, up and down the salt seas?” | |
| “We are going to fetch you your bread and your butter, | |
| Your beef, pork, and mutton, eggs, apples, and cheese.” | |
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| “And where will you fetch it from, all you Big Steamers, | 5 |
| And where shall I write you when you are away?” | |
| “We fetch it from Melbourne, Quebec, and Vancouver— | |
| Address us at Hobart, Hong-Kong, and Bombay.” | |
| |
| “But if anything happened to all you Big Steamers, | |
| And suppose you were wrecked up and down the salt sea?” | 10 |
| “Then you’d have no coffee or bacon for breakfast, | |
| And you’d have no muffins or toast for your tea.” | |
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| “Then I’ll pray for fine weather for all you Big Steamers, | |
| For little blue billows and breezes so soft.” | |
| “Oh, billows and breezes don’t bother Big Steamers, | 15 |
| For we’re iron below and steel-rigging aloft.” | |
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| “Then I’ll build a new lighthouse for all you Big Steamers, | |
| With plenty wise pilots to pilot you through.” | |
| “Oh, the Channel’s as bright as a ball-room already, | |
| And pilots are thicker than pilchards at Looe.” | 20 |
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| “Then what can I do for you, all you Big Steamers, | |
| Oh, what can I do for your comfort and good?” | |
| “Send out your big warships to watch your big waters, | |
| That no one may stop us from bringing you food. | |
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| “For the bread that you eat and the biscuits you nibble, | 25 |
| The sweets that you suck and the joints that you carve, | |
| They are brought to you daily by all us Big Steamers— | |
| And if any one hinders our coming you’ll starve!” | |
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