In Lowestoft a boat was laid
Mark well what I do say!
And she was built for the herring trade
But she has gone a-rovin', a-rovin', a-rovin'
The Lord knows where!

They gave her Government coal to burn
And a Q.F. gun at bow and stern
And sent her out a-rovin', a-rovin', a-rovin'
The Lord knows where!

Her skipper was mate of a bucko ship
Which always killed one man per trip
So he is used to rovin', rovin', rovin'
The Lord knows where!

Her mate was skipper of a chapel in Wales
And so he fights in topper and tails --
Religi-ous tho' rovin', rovin', rovin'
The Lord knows where!

Her engineer is fifty-eight
So he's prepared to meet his fate
Which ain't unlikely rovin', rovin', rovin'
The Lord knows where!
Her leading-stoker's seventeen
So he don't know what the judgments means
Unless he cops 'em rovin', rovin', rovin'
The Lord knows where!

Her cook was chef in the Lost Dogs' Home
Mark well what I do say!
And I'm sorry for Fritz when they all come
A-rovin', a-rovin', aroarin' and a-rovin'
Round the North Sea rovin'
The Lord knows where!