Released: September 1, 1997
Songwriter: Chumbawamba
Producer: Chumbawamba Neil Ferguson
Pontius Pilate came to our town
Up to the dockyards to see the picket line
We asked him to help but he just turned around
He's the leader of the union now
Leader of the union
All of our questions he ignored
He washed his hands and he dreamt of his reward
A seat in the House of Lords
One by one
The ships come sailing in
One by one
The ships go sailing out
We live for words and die for words
Principles we can afford
When all our brothers turn to lords
Whose side are you on?
You tell the world your hands are tied
History three times denied
A sea of changes three miles wide
Whose side are you on?
One by one
The ships come sailing in
One by one
The ships go sailing out
This conspiracy of shame
Murder by some other name
Play up and play the game
Whose side are you on?
If any ask us why we died
We tell them that our leaders lied
Sold us out down the riverside
Whose side are you on?
One by one
The ships come sailing in
One by one
The ships go sailing out
One by one
The ships come sailing in
One by one
The ships go sailing out
One by one
The ships come sailing in
One by one
The ships go sailing out
One by one
The ships come sailing in
One by one
The ships go sailing out
[Outro/Interlude]
(For over half a million young people every weekend, a good night out means breaking the law.)
(Breaking the law. Breaking the law. Breaking the law. Breaking the law.)
(Breaking the law. Breaking the law. Breaking the law. Breaking the law.)
Up to the dockyards to see the picket line
We asked him to help but he just turned around
He's the leader of the union now
Leader of the union
All of our questions he ignored
He washed his hands and he dreamt of his reward
A seat in the House of Lords
One by one
The ships come sailing in
One by one
The ships go sailing out
We live for words and die for words
Principles we can afford
When all our brothers turn to lords
Whose side are you on?
You tell the world your hands are tied
History three times denied
A sea of changes three miles wide
Whose side are you on?
One by one
The ships come sailing in
One by one
The ships go sailing out
This conspiracy of shame
Murder by some other name
Play up and play the game
Whose side are you on?
If any ask us why we died
We tell them that our leaders lied
Sold us out down the riverside
Whose side are you on?
One by one
The ships come sailing in
One by one
The ships go sailing out
One by one
The ships come sailing in
One by one
The ships go sailing out
One by one
The ships come sailing in
One by one
The ships go sailing out
One by one
The ships come sailing in
One by one
The ships go sailing out
[Outro/Interlude]
(For over half a million young people every weekend, a good night out means breaking the law.)
(Breaking the law. Breaking the law. Breaking the law. Breaking the law.)
(Breaking the law. Breaking the law. Breaking the law. Breaking the law.)
more tracks from the album
From the album
- Tubthumper (1997)
Chumbawamba popular songs
- Tubthumping
- WWW Dot
- El Fusilado
- Bella Ciao
- Cartrouble
- Money Money Money
- I’m Coming Out
- Enough Is Enough
- I Never Gave Up (Cass Mix)
- Pop Star Kidnap
- When I’m Bad
- The Health And Happiness Show
- Silly Love Songs
- Fine Line
- Sleep
- Ah-Men
- Rock ‘n’ Roles
- Safety Pin Stuck In My Heart
- Smith & Taylor
- The Song Collector
- Knickers
- Stairway to Heaven
- Introduction
- Salt Fare, North Sea