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