‘OLD SCHOOL NAVY’

This one was written by an ol' school tin can sailor many moons ago...  

Come gather round me lads and I'll tell you a thing or two;

About the way we ran the Navy in nineteen fifty two…

When wooden ships and iron men were barely out of sight;

I am going to give you some facts just to set the record right…

We wore the ole bell bottoms, with a flat hat on our head;

Always hit the rack at night and never "went to bed"…

Our uniforms were worn ashore and we were mighty proud;

Never thought of wearing civvies, in fact they were never allowed…

What happened to the KiYi brush, and the old salt-water bath;

Holy stoning decks at night cause you stirred old Bosn's wrath!!!

We always had our gedunk stand and lots of pogey bait;

And it always took a hitch or two just to make a rate…

In your seabag all your skivvies, were neatly stopped and rolled;

And the blankets on your sack had better have a three-inch fold…

Your little ditty bag, it is hard to believe just how much it held;

You wouldn't go ashore with pants that hadn't been spiked and belled…

We had scullery maids and succotash and good old SOS;

And when you felt like topping off, you headed for the mess…

Oh we had our belly robbers but there weren't too many gripes;

For the deck apes were never hungry and there were no starving snipes…

Now you never hear of Davy Jones, Shellbacks or Polliwogs;

And you  never splice the mainbrace to receive your daily grog…

Now you never have to dog a watch or stand the main vent;

You even tie your lines today, back in my time they were bent…

We were all two-fisted drinkers and no one thought you sinned;

If you staggered back aboard your ship, three sheets to the wind…

And with just a couple hours of sleep you regained your usual luster;

Bright eyed and bushy tailed- you still made morning muster…

Rocks and shoals have long since gone, and now it's UCMJ;

Then the old man handled every thing if you should go astray…

Now they steer the ships with dials, and I wouldn't be surprised;

If some day they sailed them from the beach computerized…

So when my earthly hitch is over, and the good Lord picks the best;

I'll walk right up to HIM and say, "Sir, I have but one request…

Let me sail the seas of Heaven in a coat of Navy blue;

Like I did so long ago on earth way back in nineteen-fifty-two…

Compliments of Bill Brewer!!!