My father often told me, when I was just a lad
"A sailor's life was very hard, the food was always bad"
But now, I've joined the navy, I'm on board a man-o-war
And now, I find a sailor ain't a sailor, anymore!
Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast
If you see a sailing ship, it might be your last
Just get your civvies ready for another run ashore
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor anymore!
Well, the killick of our mess, he says, "We've had it soft"
It wasn't like this in his day, when he was up aloft
We like our bunks and sleeping bags, but, what's a hammock for?
Swinging from the deck head, or lying on the floor?
Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast
If you see a sailing-ship, it might be your last
Just get your civvies ready for another run ashore
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor, anymore
Well, they gave us an engine that first went up and down
Then, with more technology, the engine went around
We're good with steam and diesel, but, what's a main yard for?
A stoker ain't a stoker, with a shovel, anymore
Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast
If you see a sailing ship, it might be your last
Just get your civvies ready for another run ashore
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor, anymore
Well, they gave us an Aldis Lamp, we can do it right
They gave us a radio, we signal day and night
We know our codes and ciphers, but, what's a sema for?
A 'bunting-tosser' doesn't toss the bunting, anymore!
Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast
If you see a sailing-ship, it might be your last
Just get your civvies ready for another run ashore
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor, anymore
Two cans of beer a day, that's your bleeding lot
But now, we get an extra one because, they stopped the tot
So, we'll put on our civvy-clothes, and find a pub ashore
A sailor's still a sailor, just like he was before
Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast (don't)
If you see a sailing ship, it might be your last
Just get your civvies ready for another run ashore
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor, anymore
Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast (don't)
If you see a sailing ship, it might be your last
Just get your civvies ready for another run ashore
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor, anymore (ha)
