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