Pride of the White Star Line – English Lyrics

• By: The Longest Johns
• Album: Made of Ale Sessions

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the fascinating maritime history with "Pride of the White Star Line" by The Longest Johns! This original sea shanty offers a unique way to explore historical events, particularly the era of grand ocean liners, through engaging storytelling and a traditional folk sound. You'll not only learn about a famous ship but also appreciate how music can bring history to life and evoke powerful emotions.

[English]

In the Belfast yard where she was made of Harland-Wolff design

The plan was struck to build three ships that funds would not define

The gantry raised up in '08, a nameless liner rose

To make the journeys to New York in record time and so

She's the pride of the White Star Line, may her engines never stall

Her sisters died from 'berg and mine, but she'll run for decades more

She'll run for decades more

Olympic soon became her stamp, no finer ship did sail

Smoking rooms and Turkish baths and palm trees rail to rail

As sleek and striking as could be, and speed second to none

She sailed from Portsmouth Dock and showed the world how it was done

She's the pride of the White Star Line, may her engines never stall

Her sisters died from 'berg and mine, but she'll run for decades more

She'll run for decades more

The Hawke was running 'long her side around the Isle of Wight

A swing to starboard up and took the helmsman by surprise

Two holes were punched into her side and water flooded in

She staggered back to Portsmouth Dock and lived to sail again

She's the pride of the White Star Line, may her engines never stall

Her sisters died from 'berg and mine, but she'll run for decades more

She'll run for decades more

Titanic sank into the depths, Britannic joined her too

Through the wars, Olympic kept on sailing sure and true

Missions out in open sea with U-boats in her stead

Damn near cut them clean in two and sank them to the bed

She's the pride of the White Star Line, may her engines never stall

Her sisters died from 'berg and mine, but she'll run for decades more

She'll run for decades more

Now, every dog must have its day and all good things must pass

Shipyards forged much bigger crafts that dwarfed her in her class

The trips were few and fares declined, the world marched on ahead

They pulled her down in Jarrow town, still striking to 'til end

She's the pride of the White Star Line, may her engines never stall

Her sisters died from 'berg and mine, but she'll run for decades more

She'll run for decades more

She'll run for decades more

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
pride /praɪd/ B1	noun - a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.
yard /jɑːrd/ A2	noun - an area of ground attached to a house noun - a place where boats or ships are built or repaired
design /dɪˈzaɪn/ B1	noun - a plan or drawing produced to show the look and function or workings of a building, garment, or other object before it is built or made. verb - to do or plan (something) with a specific purpose or intention in mind
build /bɪld/ A1	verb - construct (something, typically a large structure) by putting parts or materials together
ships /ʃɪps/ A1	noun - a large boat for transporting people or goods by sea
funds /fʌndz/ B1	noun - a sum of money saved or made available for a particular purpose
gantry /ˈɡæntri/ B2	noun - a bridging structure, typically a tall framework, supporting equipment such as a crane or signals over a railway.
liner /ˈlaɪnər/ B2	noun - a passenger ship or aircraft, especially one operating on a regular schedule
journeys /ˈdʒɜːrniz/ A2	noun - an act of travelling from one place to another
engines /ˈendʒɪnz/ A2	noun - a machine with moving parts that converts power into motion
stall /stɔːl/ B2	verb - (of an engine) stop running, typically because of an overload on the engine
sisters /ˈsɪstərz/ A1	noun - a woman or girl who has one or more parents in common with another person
died /daɪd/ A1	verb - to stop living
'berg /bɜːrɡ/ B1	noun - short form of iceberg - a large floating mass of ice detached from a glacier or ice sheet and carried out to sea
mine /maɪn/ A2	noun - an explosive device placed in the ground or water and designed to be detonated by contact or proximity.
finer /ˈfaɪnər/ B1	adjective - of high quality; good
sail /seɪl/ A2	verb - travel in a boat or ship
striking /ˈstraɪkɪŋ/ B2	adjective - attracting attention by reason of being unusual, remarkable, or prominent