Rolling Up, Rolling Down (Sydney Town)
By Jack Forbes
Written by Jack Forbes of the Hoy Shanty Crew. a.k.a. Tilbury Town. - Our version has replaced Tilbury with Sydney
*O.C.L. = Overseas Containers Limited, shipping container company
**T.E.U. = Twenty-food Equivalent Unit ,a standard unit of cargo container capacity
LYRICS
CHORUS
Rolling up. Rolling down.
We'll all get drunk in Sydney town
Twenty four hours to turn around.
And go rolling down the river.
Oh! I once was a rigger and I worked like hell.
Rolling up. Rolling down.
But now I'm sailing with the OCL*
And go rolling down the river.
CHORUS
When first I saw a TEU.
Rolling up. Rolling down.
I wondered where they stowed the crew
To go rolling down the river.
Well cargo comes in TEUs.
Rolling up. Rolling down.
A 20 foot box, boys, filled with booze.
To go rolling down the river.
CHORUS
There's a Sydney girl called Kettle Jane.
Rolling up. Rolling down.
First on the boil then off again.
To go rolling down the river.
She's got a mate called Teapot Anne.
Rolling up. Rolling down.
She gets well brewed. She likes a man.
To go rolling down the river.
CHORUS
Sydney girls go round in pairs,
Rolling up. Rolling down.
You won't catch them unawares.
To go rolling down the river.
Well, we're the boys to see her through.
Rolling up. Rolling down.
So to hell the Channel and the TEU.
To go rolling down the river.
CHORUS x 2