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, 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

Get your civvies ready for another run ashore

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

We've clearly got a mess, he says we've 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 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

Get your civvies 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 of 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

Get your civvies ready for another run ashore

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

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 semaphore?

The 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

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 and that's your bleeding lot

They gave us an extra one because we swapped 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 anymore

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 anymore