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
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
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
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
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

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 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
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
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