A Sailor Ain't A Sailor

My father always 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, aboard a man o' war

But 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 civies ready for another run ashore

A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor anymore

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, and 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

Just get your civies ready for another run ashore

A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor anymore

They gave us an engine that first went up and down

With some more technology, the engine went around

We know our steam and diesel, but what's a mainyard 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 civies ready for another run ashore

A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor anymore

They gave us an Aldiss lamp, so we could do it right

They gave us a radio to signal day and night

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

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 civies ready for another run ashore

A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor anymore

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 our 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

Just get your civies 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

If you see a sailing ship it might be your last

Just get your civies ready for another run ashore

A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor anymore