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Verse 1:
G
My father often told me, when I was just a lad
A D
A sailor's life was very hard, the food was always bad
G
But now I've joined the navy, I'm on board a man-o-war
A D G
And now I find a sailor ain't a sailor any more!
G
Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast
A D
If you see a sailing ship, it might be your last
G
Get your civvies ready for another run ashore
G A D G
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor any more!
Verse 2:
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The 'killick' of our mess, he says we've had it soft
G A D
It wasn't like this in his day, when he was up aloft
G
We like our bunks and sleeping bags, but what's a hammock for?
G A D G
Swinging from the deckhead, or lying on the floor?
G
Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast
A D
If you see a sailing ship, it might be your last
G
Get your civvies ready for another run ashore
A D G
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor any more!
Verse 3:
G G
They gave us an engine that first went up and down
G A D
Then with more technology the engine went around
G
We're good with steam and diesel, but what's a mainyard for?
A D G
A stoker ain't a stoker with a shovel any more!
G
Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast
A D
If you see a sailing ship, it might be your last
G
Get your civvies ready for another run ashore
G A D G
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor any more!
Verse 4:
G
They gave us an Aldis Lamp, we can do it right
G A D
They gave us a radio, we signal day and night
G
We know our codes and ciphers, but what's a 'sema' for?
A D G
A 'bunting-tosser' doesn't toss the bunting any more!
G
Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast
A D
If you see a sailing ship, it might be your last
G
Get your civvies ready for another run ashore
G A D G
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor any more!
Verse 5:
G
They gave us a radar set to pierce the fog and gloom
A D
So now the lookout's sitting in a tiny darkened room
G
Loran does navigation, the Sonar says how deep
A D G
The Jimmy's three sheets to the wind, the Skipper's fast asleep
G
Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast
A D
If you see a sailing ship, it might be your last
G
Get your civvies ready for another run ashore
G A D G
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor any more!
Verse 6:
G
Two cans of beer a day, that's your bleeding lot!
A D
But now we get an extra one because they stopped the tot
G
So, we'll put on our civvy-clothes and find a pub ashore
A D G
A sailor's still a sailor, just like he was before!
G
Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast
A D
If you see a sailing ship, it might be your last
G
Get your civvies ready for another run ashore
G A D G
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor any more!
Written by Nathan Evans