M' 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've 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 anymore
The 'killick' of our mess he says we've had 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 anymore
They gave us an engine that first went up and down
Then with more technology the engine went around
We're good with 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, we can do it right
They gave us a radio, we signaled day and night
We know our codes and cyphers but what's a 'sema' for?
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
Get your civvies ready for another run ashore
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor anymore
They gave us a radar set to pierce the fog and gloom
So now the lookout's sitting in a tiny darkened room
Loran does navigation, the Sonar says how deep
The Jimmy's 3 sheets to the wind, The Skipper's fast asleep
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, that's your bleeding lot
But now we get an extra one because they've stopped The Tot
So we'll put on our civvie-clothes and 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