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 any more
Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast If you see a sailing ship it might be a lad
Get your savings ready for another round the shore A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor any more
The killick of a mess, he says we got it soft It was like this in his day when he was up aloft
We're like a bunch of stupid bags of what's-a-ham at four A-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 a lad
Get your savings ready for another round the shore A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor any more
They gave us an engine, the first one up and down With some more technology the engine went around
We know a steam and diesel, but what's a man-o'-four? 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 a lad
Get your savings ready for another round the shore A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor any more
They gave us an oiler stamp 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? 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 a lad
Get your savings ready for another round the shore 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 civic 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 a lad
Get your savings ready for another round the shore 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 a lad
Get your savings ready for another round the shore A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor any more