It's 'ard on a ship when she's old -
An' her riggin' a sin to be'old,
An' there's nobody left to care
As 'er paintwork's all blistered and bare,
An' 'er brasses as glittered like gold,
They're all over tarnish an' mould…
Oh, it's 'ard -
'Ard on a ship when she's old!

It's 'ard on a man when 'e's old…
An' 'is ships are all broke up an' sold,
An' there ain't nothin' left for 'im much
But trampin' around in the slutch
For a job o' shipkeepin' or such,
An' thinkin' o' foolin' an' fun
An' things as 'e's seen an' 'e's done
Where there's somethin' like 'eat in the sun,
An' 'is stren'th's like a tale as is told
In the mud, an' the rain, an' the cold…
Oh, it's 'ard -
'Ard on a man when he's old!