Pontius Pilate came to our town
Up to the dockyards to see the picket line
We asked him to help but he just turned around
He's the leader of the union now
Leader of the union, all of our questions he ignored
He washed his hands and he dreamt of his reward
A seat in the House Of Lords
One by one the ships come sailing in
One by one the ships go sailing out
We live for words and die for words, principles we can afford
When all our Brothers turn to Lords, whose side are you on?
You tell the world your hands are tied, history three times denied
A sea of changes three miles wide, whose side are you on?
One by one the ships come sailing in
One by one the ships go sailing out
This conspiracy of shame, murder by some other name
Play up and play the game, whose side are you on?
If any ask us why we died, we tell them that our leaders lied
Sold us out down the riverside, whose side are you on?
One by one the ships come sailing in
One by one the ships go sailing out
One by one the ships come sailing in
One by one the ships go sailing out
One by one the ships come sailing in
One by one the ships go sailing out
One by one the ships come sailing in
One by one the ships go sailing out