[Verse 1]
When Lewis Clive took his first swim he kicked his little legs so thin
And though he hardly had the room, he swam around his mother's womb
The midwife waited for a grip like a fielder at first slip
And the bunting it was all unfurled when Lewis dived into the world
But there was one thing held him down - umbilical cord a-twining round
He saw the pliers on the shelf and went and cut the cord himself

[Chorus 1]
For Lewis Clive! Lewis Clive!
Couldn't wait to be alive
Lewis Clivе

[Verse 2]
When Lewis Clive bеcame a man his back was straight, his arms were strong
And he became an Oxford blue and then in 1932
Beneath the Californian sun the umpire fired the starting gun
And the rings were blazing bright and bold when Lewis won Olympic Gold
And though he missed the boat back home Lewis Clive didn't moan
It's a long way from Americay but Lewis Clive swam all the way

[Chorus 2]
Oh Lewis Clive! Lewis Clive!
Ain't it great to be alive
Lewis Clive
[Verse 3]
Then one day in '38, the big retreat, no time to wait
The bridge across the river gone, 'swim lads' says big Clive, 'come on'
And like a swan leads her rank he steered us to the other bank
But Thomas struggled with the tide and flailed his drowning arms out wide
But Big Clive pulled him safe from harm and swam with him beneath one arm
And when the job was finally done, he swam back and fetched his gun

[Chorus 3]
Oh Lewis Clive! Lewis Clive!
Swore to keep us all alive
Lewis Clive!

[Verse 4]
And how we loved his shining smile and the arms that swam for mile and mile
But Lewis Clive shall swim no more, but maybe on a distant shore
St. Peter's standing at the gate, he says 'Big Clive you'll have to wait'
'No bother' smiles Clive with a grin 'I'll go and have meself a swim'
So he dives down to the seas of hell where all them fascists scream and yell
And when God sees just what he's done, he says 'Moses, mate, you best be gone'
'There'd be no need to part the sea if Lewis Clive had swam for me.'

[Final Chorus]
Oh Lewis Clive! Lewis Clive!
How I wish he was alive
Lewis Clive