“THE OLD OUTFIT”

Come gather round me lads and I'll tell you a thing or two, about the way we ran the Navy in nineteen forty-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 heads, And we always hit the sack at night, We never "went to bed".

Our uniforms were worn ashore, and we were mighty proud. Never thought of wearing civvies, in fact they were not allowed.

Now when a ship puts out to sea, I'll tell you son--it hurts! When suddenly you notice that half the crew's wearing skirts.

And it's hard for me to imagine, a female boatswains mate, Stopping on the Quarterdeck to make sure her stockings are straight.

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 sea bag 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.

And you wouldn't go ashore with pants what hadn't been spiked and belied.

We had scullery maids and succotash and good old S.O.S. And when you felt like topping off—you headed for the mess.

Oh we had our belly robbers —but there weren't too many Wipes.

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

Now you hear of Davey Jones, Shellbacks or Polliwags, And you never splice the main brace to receive your daily grog-

Now you never have to dog a watch or stand the main event. You never tie your lines today —back in my time then 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 retained your usual luster.

bright eyed and bushy tailed--you still made morning muster.

Rocks and shoals have long since gone, and now it's U.C.M.J. Then the old man handled everything if you should go astray.

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

If some day they sailed the damned things --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 forth-two."

Written by a World War Two Sailor by the name of LTJG Don Ballard who joined the Navy in 1935 when he received $21.00 per month …