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