The Liner She’s a Lady
The Liner she’s a lady, an’ she never looks nor ‘eeds-
The Man-oWar’s ‘er ‘usband, an’ ‘e gives ‘er all she needs;
But, oh, the little cargo-boats, that sail the wet seas roun’.
They’re just the same as you an’ me a-plyin’ up an’ down!
The Liner she’s a lady by the paint upon ‘er face,
An’ if she meets an accident they count it sore disgrace:
The Man-o’-War’s ‘er ‘usband, and ‘e’s always ‘andy by,
But, oh, the little cargo-boats, the’ve got to load or die!
The Liner she’s a lady and ‘r route is cut an’ dried,
The Man-o’-War’s ‘er ‘usband, and ‘e’s always keeps beside;
But, oh, the little cargo-boats that ‘aven’t any man,
The got to do their business first, and make the most they can!
The Liner she’s a lady and if a war should come,
The Man-o’-War’s ‘er ‘usband, and ‘e’d bid ‘er stay at home;
But, oh, the little cargo-boats that fill with every tide!
‘E’d ‘ave to up an’ fight for them, for they are England’s pride.
The Liner she’s a lady but if she wasn’t made,
There still would be the cargo-boats for ‘ome and foreign trade.
The Man-o’-War’s ‘er ‘usband, but if ‘e wasn’t ‘ere,
‘E wouldn’t have to fight at all for ‘ome an’ friends so dear.
Rudyard Kipling 1894
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