I've referred to this song several times in the threads but never posted it apparently. It was inspired by an article in the Portland Press Herald concerning a new policy of the U. S. Coast Guard. I was also probably inspired by Tom Lewis' songs (copy and paste into WORD/TIMES/12 to line up the chords):

THOSE SWABBING DAYS ARE GONE

(Words by Charlie Ipcar © 1999
Inspired by AP Article Portland Press Herald 3/15/99
Tune by Vince Morash "Fishing Time Again" © 1997)


G-------D7---------G--------D7
In days of old, sailors paid their dues,
-----G---------F------------------G?F--G
Their ships were ship-shape, when the day was through;
-----------------D7-------------G--------F
They swabbed the decks, till they shined like new,
-----------G--------------F--G
Now, those swab-bing days are gone.

They swabbed the decks, they polished brass,
They painted bulkheads fore and aft;
Now, civilian workers contract those tasks
Since those swabbing days are gone.

Chorus:

G----C--------------G?C?G-C
Those swab-bing days are past and gone,
G------C?G-D7-G
They?ve left us here to sing this song;
C---G-----F-----G---F----G
Let?s raise a glass, don?t look for-lorn,
-----------------D7-----G
Those swab-bing days are gone.

I remember well how our old chief said,
As he gently stirred me from my bed,
"Rise up, me lad, and clean the head!"
Now, those swabbing days are gone.

They say we?ll all be better trained,
In search and rescue, wind or rain,
With no dishpan hands, nor backs in pain,
Now, those swabbing days are gone. (CHO)

The old chief takes it with a grin,
"There?s no use spitting into the wind,
But how?ll they learn their discipline,
Now, those swabbing days are gone."

The times bring change from coast to coast,
And the U.S. Coast Guard?s the first to boast,
All raise your glass, let?s shout the toast,
"Those swabbing days are gone!" (CHO)

Here's a link to my personal website for a MP3 sample of how I sing this:Click here!

And thanks to Chief Chaos as a veteran of the Coast Guard for some tweaking of the lyrics.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble