The Last Shanty Songtext
von Colm R. McGuinness

Well me father often told me when I was just a lad
A sailor′ life is very hard, the food is always bad
But now I've joined the navy, I′m aboard a man-of-war
And now I've found 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

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 diesel, 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 bleedin′ lot
And now we've got an extra one because we stopped at dock
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