"The Last Shanty"

Well me 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 aboard a man-o-war

And now I've found 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

Just get your civies ready for another run ashore

A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor anymore

Well 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?

Well they gave us an engine that first went up and down

Then with 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.

Well they gave us Aldiss lamp so we could do it right

They gave us a radio, we signaled day and night

We know our codes and cyphers but what's a semaphore?

A bunting-tosser doesn't toss the bunting anymore

Two cans of beer a day and that's your bleeding lot

Now we get an extra one because they've stopped the tot

So we'll put on our civie clothes and find a pub ashore

A sailor's still a sailor just like he was before