We were fifty strong when we left our town
We took a train to the port
On the boat across we were forty eight
Two in the magistrates court
Two didn't get past the customs men
Three got drunk in the hold
Four got homesick straight-away
One pair of feet got cold
Raising the flag, wild without regrets
Waving scarfs, singing hard, wearing our rosettes
The riot squad had a team of dogs
And they'd called up the water hose
We declared a war, and fought to a draw
For the glory of the rose
One went down in a stumble
Two went into the sea
Three got scared and messed right there
One of them was me
Raising the flag, wild without regrets
Waving scarfs, singing hard, wearing our rosettes
Run rabbit run with the pack
Better not look down better not look back
The day you turn will be the day you learn
The lie in the Union Jack
Matchday came, and we saw the game
They took us on at the gates
I caught the hammering of my life
At the hands of a heavyweight
I dreamed I heard a distant drum
Beat a requiem Someone's gained, someone's stained
Us, or was it them?
Raising the flags, wild without regrets
Waving scarfs, drinking hard, wearing our rosettes
Dress him in the flag, send him our regrets
Wear a scarf on his behalf, wearing our rosettes
Raising the flag, wild without regrets
Waving scarfs, singing hard, wearing our rosettes