He was born to sing in harmony and sang of oceans blue
Of storms and whales and sailor's tales and Foundlands old and new
Of roving blades and busty maids who in Yarmouth Town roamed free
But the capstan stopped when the anchor dropped far away from his home and sea
And still he sings in harmony as he did when on the land
For the old tradition still lives on in the songs of everyman
He always sang in harmony as he crept on through the night
Like old daddy fox on a hunting trip listening out for the farmer's wife
But the fox is sly and cunning and wise to the hunter's game
But like an innocent hare in the poachers snare he was trapped by his early fame
And still he sings in harmony as he did when on the land
For the old tradition still lives on in the songs of everyman
He wrote and sang the harmonies for Kipling's khaki lads
Of Tommy's and Jim's and Ghunga Dins and nights in the Kyber Pass
But the soldier fights for money when his Queen and generals call
But the jewel in the crown will quickly fade when the empire starts to fall
And still he sings in harmony as he did when on the land
For the old tradition still lives on in the songs of everyman
He even sang in harmony on his way to Van Diemen's land
Of cabin boys and sailor's joys and the tales of the old deck hand
Of shackles and chains and poachers names and those in Newgate Gaol
Though he found his way into Botany Bay he'd searched for the Holy Grail
And still he sings in harmony as he did when on the land
For the old tradition still lives on in the songs of everyman
And still he sings in harmony as he did when in his teens
Amongst the whores and poaching boys beneath the barley' oats and beans
And still they sing with gusto as they did when on the land
For the old tradition still lives on, in the songs of everyman
And he always sang in harmony and sang about us all
Of poachers, sailors, little tailors, soldiers on the brawl
And still he sings with gusto as he did when on the land
For the old tradition still lives on, in the songs of everyman