"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."

"And where will you fetch it from, all you Big Steamers
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?"
"Why, you'd have no coffee or bacon for breakfast
And you'd have no muffins or toast for your tea."

"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:
We're iron below and steel-rigging aloft."

"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."

"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."
For the bread that you eat and the biscuits you nibble
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!"