Sailor Ain’t a Sailor
Music: Traditional
Lyrics: Traditional
Me father often told me when I was just a lad
A sailor's life was very hard, the food is always bad
Now I've joined the navy, I'm aboard a man-o-war
And now I find a sailor ain't a sailor any more
[chorus]
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 killock 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?
[chorus]
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 our steam and diesel but what's a mainyard for?
A stoker ain't a stoker with a shovel anymore.
[chorus]
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 could do it right
They gave us a radio we signal day and night
We know our codes and ciphers but what’s a semaphore
A bunting tosser doesn’t toss the bunting anymore
[chorus]
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
Now two cans of beer a day and that's your bleeding lot (you what?)
But then we got another one because they've stopped the tot (Hurray!)
So we'll put on our civvy clothes and find a pub ashore
A sailor is a sailor just like he was before
[chorus]
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
[chorus]
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
​