The Last Shanty

Well, me father often told me when I was just a lad

A sailor's life is very hard, the food is 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

And if you see a sailing ship, it might be your last

Just get your civvies ready for another run-ashore

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

Well, the killick of our mess he says we had it soft

It wasn't like that in his day when we were up aloft

We like our bunks and sleeping bags, but what's a hammock for?

Swinging from the deckhead, or lying on the floor?

Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast

And if you see a sailing ship, it might be your last

Just 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

And then with more technology, the engine went around

We know our steam and diesels but what's a mainyard for?

A stoker ain't a stoker with a shovel anymore

Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast

And if you see a sailing ship, it might be your last

Just get your civvies ready for another run-ashore

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

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

And now we've got an extra one because they stopped The Tot

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

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

Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast

And if you see a sailing ship, it might be your last

Just get your civvies ready for another run-ashore

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

Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast

And if you see a sailing ship, it might be your last

Just get your civvies ready for another run-ashore

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