[Verse 1] The iron roads a hard road and the work is never ending Working night and day on the iron way Were the boys who keep the engines rolling You sigh on at the loco shed, they put you to the cleaning In your dungarees, cleaning super dees Youre a sweeperupper, brewerupper, shovel slinger Spanner bringer Steam raiser, fire dropper, general cook and bottle washer Learning how to keep em rolling [Verse 2] When youve done your tim at the loco shed And had your share of troubl On the old footplate, youre the drivers mate And youre married to a lousy shovel Its check the water, check the tools and chuck The blooming coal in Give the gauge a wipe, check injector pipe, now its Swing your shovel at the double, give her rock Watch the clock Steam rising, sweat running, back aching, bone shaking Fireman, fireman, keep her rolling [Verse 3] When youve shoveled a million tons of coal Some ten or twelve years later And your only dream is of raising steam Then they hand to you your drivers papers The iron road is a hard road and the work is never ending Working night and day on the iron way, were the Loco drivers, early riser, lodging turners, mile burners Eleven quid a week earners Were the boys that keep em rolling
iron, loco, shovel, rolling, steam