A Sailor Ain't A Sailor

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 any more!

Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast

If you see a sailing-ship, it might be your last

Get your civvies ready for another run ashore

A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor any more!

The 'killick' of our mess, he says we got 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 deckhead, 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

Get your civvies ready for another run ashore

A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor any more!

They gave us an engine that first went up and down

With some more technology, the engine went around

We know a steam and diesel, but what's a mainyard for?

A stoker ain't a stoker with a shovel any more!

Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast

If you see a sailing-ship, it might be your last

Get your civvies ready for another run ashore

A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor any more!

They gave us an Aldis Lamp, so we can do it right

They gave us a radio, to signal day and night

We know our codes and ciphers, but what's a 'sema' for?

A 'bunting-tosser' doesn't toss the bunting any more!

Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast

If you see a sailing-ship, it might be your last

Get your civvies ready for another run ashore

A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor any more!

Two cans of beer a day, and that's your bleeding lot!

They gave us an extra one because we swabbed the top

So get on your civvy-clothes, you'll 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

If you see a sailing-ship, it might be your last

Get your civvies ready for another run ashore

A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor any more!

Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast

If you see a sailing-ship, it might be your last

Get your civvies ready for another run ashore

A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor any more!