They say there's a troopship just leaving Bombay, bound for old Blighty shore
Heavily laden with time expired men, bound for the land they adore
There's many an airman just finishing his time, there's many a twerp signing on
You'll get no promotion this side of the ocean, so cheer up my lads, bless 'em all
Bless 'em all, bless 'em all, the long and the short and the tall
Bless all the sergeants and W. O. ones
Bless all the corporals and their blinking sons
'Cause we're saying goodbye to them all, as back to their billets they crawl
You'll get no promotion this side of the ocean, so cheer up my lads, bless 'em all
They say if you work hard you'll get better pay
We've heard all that before
Clean up your buttons and polish your boots
Scrub out the barrack room floor
There's many a rookie has taken it in, hook line and sinker and all
You'll get no promotion this side of the ocean
So cheer up my lads bless 'em all
Bless 'em all, bless 'em all, the long and the short and the tall
Bless all the sergeants and W. O. ones
Bless all the corporals and their blinking sons
'Cause we're saying goodbye to them all, as back to their billets they crawl
You'll get no promotion this side of the ocean, so cheer up my lads, bless'em all
Now they say that the Sergeant's a very nice chap, oh what a tale to tell
Ask him for leave on a Saturday night and he'll pay your fare home as well
There's many an airman has blighted his life through writing rude words on the wall
You'll get no promotion this side of the ocean
So cheer up my lads bless 'em all
(Bless 'em all) bless 'em all, (bless 'em all) bless 'em all, the long and the short and the tall
Bless all the sergeants and W. O. ones
Bless all the corporals and their blinking sons
'Cause we're saying goodbye to them all, as back to their billets they crawl
You'll get no promotion this side of the ocean, so cheer up my lads, bless'em all
Nobody knows what a twerp you have been, so cheer up my lads bless 'em all