'Twas late '65 at the old Wallsea Yard She was commissioned to haul the black tar Built the Northumbria there on the bar Roll, Northumbria, roll For when the Egyptians, they closed the Red Sea A call came on high from the powers that be To build a royal monster right down on the quay Roll, Northumbria, roll me, boys Roll, Northumbria, roll Carpathia, Vengeance, Celestial call She was the tanker to outsize 'em all From the banks of the Mersey to the port of Hulaul Roll, Northumbria, roll And fair Princess Anne threw a bottle of wine And watch as the giant set down in the Tyne What lay ahead could no mortal divine Roll, Northumbria, roll me, boys Roll, Northumbria, roll And it's one for the hot Sun above Two for the empire we love And it's three for the fire that burns down below Roll on, Northumbria Roll, Northumbria, roll And it's one for the hot Sun above Two for the empire we love And it's three for the fire that burns down below Roll on, Northumbria Roll, Northumbria, roll So come all you good workmen, beware the command That comes down on high from the desk of a man Who's never held steel or torch in his hands Roll, Northumbria, roll For atop a wild breaker, the cracks in her frame Spilled her black guts all across the wild main She limped away through an ocean of flame Roll, Northumbria, roll me, boys Roll, Northumbria, Roll And it's one for the hot Sun above Two for the empire we love And it's three for the fire that burns down below Roll on Northumbria Roll, Northumbria, roll