On the 5th of November back in '53
The big man at Dolphin, sure, he sent for me
"We brought you here, sonny, 'cause we want you to know
We've booked you a berth in water below"
With the diesel and shale, diesel and shale
We've booked you a berth with the diesel and shale
But when I protested, "I'm no volunteer"
They said "we ain't had one in many's a year
But that's a wee secret between you and me
There's many a pressed man down under the sea"
With the diesel and shale, diesel and shale
Down under the sea with the diesel and shale
"Oh doctor, oh doctor, I don't think I'm well"
"Well, never mind, sonny, we'll very soon tell
Try holding your breath 'til I counts up to three
There! That proves you're fit to go under the sea"
With the diesel and shale, diesel and shale
To go under the sea with the diesel and shale
I went to the storeroom to gather me rig
They gave me a sweater ten sizes too big
I climbed down that boat like an old polar bear
I says to meself "there's a smell in the air"
And it's diesel and shale, diesel and shale
There's a smell in the air and it's diesel and shale
A blast on the klaxon, ring on the gong
And then you go down where no mortal belongs
Where the air's goin' bad, the bread's goin' stale
They mix you a nightcap of diesel and shale
Diesel and shale, diesel and shale
They mix you a nightcap of diesel and shale
We circled the Med for a summer or two
Where the water's so warm and the sky is so blue
'Least that's what they tell me, but I wouldn't know
You don't see much sun when you're stuck down below
With the diesel and shale, diesel and shale
When you're stuck down below with the diesel and shale
"Oh Susie, oh Susie, won't you be mine?
Submariners' wives have a hell of a time
You'll live like a duchess with cash on the nail
If you don't mind the smell of the diesel and shale"
Diesel and shale, diesel and shale
If you don't mind the smell of the diesel and shale
Then the big man at Dolphin, 'e told me at last
"It's time you went back to your ship with a mast"
"I'll feel just like Jonah, leaving his whale
But you know where to stick all your diesel and shale
Diesel and shale, diesel and shale
You know where to stick all your diesel and shale
