When you're twenty one and North of the border the chance is The military man will come and offer a hand and advances Go to sea boy Go to sea boy Go to sea boy With the shipyards sunk-on the Clyde Go to the sea the junk life is dangerous With a pocket of woes in this perishing hole it's so obvious Then you'll sail away and we'll teach you a trade That's for life It's only killing but there's nobody willing So we're asking on the Clyde When you're 21 and north of the border the chance is You'll sail away to a life in the dirt then advances