DIESEL AND SHALE

IT WAS IN THE YEAR OF "53", THE OLD MAN IN DOLPHIN SENT FOR ME
I'VE SENT FOR YOU BOY FOR I WANT YOU TO KNOW,
I'VE BOOKED YOU A BERTH IN THE WATERS BELOW,
WITH THE DIESEL AND SHALE, DIESEL AND SHALE
I'VE BOOKED YOU A BERTH WITH THE DIESEL AND SHALE

BUT WHEN I PROTESTED, I'M NO VOLUNTEER
HE SAID WE'VE HAD NONE FOR MANY A YEAR
BUT THAT'S A WEE SECRET BETWEEN YOU AND ME
THERE'S MANY A PRESSED MAN DOWN UNDER THE SEA
WITH THE DIESEL AND SHALE, DIESEL AND SHALE
THERE'S MANY A PRESSED MAN WITH THE DIESEL AND SHALE

"OH DOCTOR, "OH" DOCTOR I DON'T THINK I'M WELL
WELL NEVER MIND SONNY, WE'LL VERY SOON TELL,
TRY TOUCHING YOUR TOES AND COUNTING TO THREE,
THERE THAT PROVES IT YOUR FIT TO GO UNDER THE SEA
WITH THE DIESEL AND SHALE, DIESEL AND SHALE
YOU'RE FIT TO GO UNDER WITH THE DIESEL AND SHALE.

SO I WENT TO THE PUSSER'S TO GET ME A RIG,
THEY GAVE ME A SWEATER TEN SIZES TO BIG,
I WENT DOWN TO THE BOAT LIKE A BIG POLAR BEAR,
TWAS THEN THAT I NOTICED THE SMELL IN THE AIR
WITH THE DIESEL AND SHALE, DIESEL AND SHALE
THE SMELL IN THE AIR WAS THE DIESEL AND SHALE.

A "TOOT" ON THE KLAXON, A BANG ON THE GONG,
AND SOON WE WERE DOWN WHERE NO MORTAL BELONGS,
WITH THE BREAD GOING HARD AND THE AIR SO STALE,
AND THEY MIX YOU A COCKTAIL OF DIESEL AND SHALE
WITH THE DIESEL AND SHALE, DIESEL AND SHALE
THEY MIX YOU A COCKTAIL OF DIESEL AND SHALE

WE WENT TO THE "MED" AND CRUISED FOR A YEAR
WHERE THE SEA IS SO BLUE AND THE SKY IS SO CLEAR
AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT THEY TELL US, BUT WE WOULDN'T KNOW
FOR THE VIEWS NOT SO GOOD WHEN YOUR FATHOMS BELOW
WITH THE DIESEL AND SHALE, DIESEL AND SHALE
THE VIEWS NOT SO GOOD WITH THE DIESEL AND SHALE.

"OH MOLLY", "OH MOLLY", WILL YOU BE MINE,
SUBMARINERS WIVES HAVE A HELL OF A TIME,
THERE'S MONEY EACH WEEK AND CASH ON THE NAIL,
IF YOU CAN PUT UP WITH THE DIESEL AND SHALE
WITH THE DIESEL AND SHALE, DIESEL AND SHALE
IF YOU CAN PUT UP WITH THE DIESEL AND SHALE

THEN THE BIG MAN IN DOLPHIN SENT FOR ME AT LAST,
IT'S TIME TO GO BACK TO A SHIP WITH A MAST,
I FEEL LIKE A "JONAH" WHO'S LEAVING THE WHALE,
FOR I'M SAYING GOODBYE TO THE DIESEL AND SHALE
WITH THE DIESEL AND SHALE, DIESEL AND SHALE
FOR I'M SAYING GOODBYE TO THE DIESEL AND SHALE