Stanley the Rat                Cyril Tawney, tune 'Brian o'Lynn.'


Stanley's a rat, and a fast one at that.
From bulkhead to bulkhead in four seconds flat!
He's come and he's gone 'fore an eyelid could bat.
But he'd do it much quicker if we had a cat!

One flashing run, and his visit is done,
Stan never lingers to join in the fun.
Our hospitality he'd rather shun.
But he'd stay a bit longer if we had a gun!

I raises me cap to this beady-eyed chap,
Who needs no compass and carries no map
And don't know what it means to get in a flap.
But we'd bloomin' soon show him if we had a trap!

When does he doze? Well, nobody knows!
Night and day, he keeps on his toes,
I don't suppose his eyes ever close.
But he'd sleep forever,
and ever and ever,
If we had a high-pressure hose!

From 'Between Decks.'   They never did catch Stanley, although he was a rat with a schedule. He had a whole Aircraft Carrier to hide in.