“Where are you bound for,
Sailorman, sailorman
With the missis and the dog
And your big spreets’l flopping?”
“Maldon, Manningtree,
West as far’s the Wight, maybe,
With bricks, hay,
China-clay,
Bit o’ that or
Bit o’ this,
Don’t much matter
What it is -
Here, there
Everywhere,
And back again to Wapping . . . .”

“Where are you bound for,
Sailorman, sailorman
Up and down the coast
For a little bit o’ shopping?”
“Shields, Tyne, Grimsby, Goole,
Hull, Hell an’ Hartlepool,
With salt, soap,
Coals and rope,
Bit o that or
Bit o’ this
Don’t much matter
What it is -
Here, there
Everywhere,
And back again to Wapping . . . .”

“Where are you bound for,
Sailorman, sailorman
Down from Lower Pool
On the late tide dropping?”
“’Cross the bay and sou’ Spain,
Round the world and home again,
With motor-cars, steel rails
Worcester sauce and bags o’ nails,
Cloves, cork, cotton seed,
Soya beans and parrot-feed,
Bit o’ that or
Bit o’ this
Don’t much matter
What it is -
Here, there
Everywhere,
And back again to Wapping . . . .”