Black Trade

All you welders and riveters

And boy smiths and plate man

You gaidgers and pipefitters

Sparks and sheet metal workers

You ricers and copper smiths

Red letters and hard drinkers

Callers and lakers

You pullers and dappers

Half seven horners you crawl as a mob

From the gates into hell with a tab in your gob

Eight box a peace poke a hammering down

A day lasts a life time and life is a job

When you’re black trade

You’re just black trade

Your family needs you to do as needs must

To the mercy of metal and madness you trust

In the keels and the girders dappers and dust

And a deadly concoction of sweat fumes and rust

‘Cause you’re black trade

You’re just black trade

All you welders and riveters

And boy smiths and plate man

You gaidgers and pipefitters

Sparks and sheet metal workers

You ricers and copper smiths

Red letters and hard drinkers

Callers and lakers

You pullers and dappers

The bane of your life lays their snug in the slips

She’s round at the stern and she’s wide at the hips

She’s proud in the bow and a pout on her lips

Says this countries an island and an island needs ships

And you’re black trade

You’re just black trade

And the drafts men and joiners come all spick and span

With their overalls crease shaped and tied to your wan

When you’re up to your eyes and their

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as tan

You’ll be fitting in with them one day if you can

‘Cause you’re black trade

You’re just black trade

All you welders and riveters

And boy smiths and plate man

You gaidgers and pipefitters

Sparks and sheet metal workers

You ricers and copper smiths

Red letters and hard drinkers

Callers and lakers

You pullers and dappers

You’re just black trade

You’re just black trade

You’re just black trade

You’re just black trade

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Lyrics submitted by Peggy Cook.