[Verse 1]
We gather for the picture, my five mates and me
Like dapper little devils, we are young and free
And I sit in the centre - the captain of the crew
My coat is an old 'un but my shirt is almost new

[Chorus 1]
And I sing ta-ra to Tooting and the lads I leave behind
For the train waits in the station and it's time for me to ride
But I'll take this tiny picture so wherever I may be
There'll be Jim and Jack and Ernie, Norman, Les, and me

[Verse 2]
And as we lеft the city and the grey land turnеd to green
I thought about those young lads and the things we'd done and seen
When we fought for the right to ramble the countryside all through
When the fences were all old 'uns but the land was almost new

[Chorus 2]
And I sang ta-ra to Tooting and the lads I left behind
And when we came to Newhaven there was one thing on my mind
But I'll take this tiny picture so wherever I may be
There'll be Jim and Jack and Ernie, Norman, Les, and me

[Verse 3]
As night fell on the channel and the wind sang on the sea
I thought about those young lads and the times they sang with me
When our tongues told of freedom and every note rang true
And though our tunes were all old 'uns our words were almost new
[Chorus 3]
And I sang ta-ra to Tooting and the lads I left behind
As morning broke on Dieppe and the sun began to shine
But I'll take this tiny picture so wherever I may be
There'll be Jim and Jack and Ernie, Norman, Les, and me

[Verse 4]
When the picture's almost faded, when the memory's almost gone
Will I sit then and wonder how we ever were so young?
Will there be young lads somewhere whose hearts are just as true?
When our old world has faded will theirs be almost new?

[Final Chorus]
Then I'll cry ta-ra to Tooting and the lads I left behind
80 years before me or 80 years behind
And when all that's left's a picture whenever that may be
There'll be Jim and Jack and Ernie, Norman, Les, and me

[Outro]
Jim, Jack, Ernie, Norman, Les, me