I'm only an expert on Strine (that's the Australian pronunciation of "Australian" in case you are competely in the dark, and it also refers to the Australian accent and expressions/slang) but I'm not an expert on John Dengate. I saw him perform a number of times at folk events. What a funny, clever bu66er he was!!

I never heard the songs about HMAS Melbourne.

From listening to Ralph Pride's performance on the video I've made some suggested changes using double asterixes.

First song on the video:

What does the Melbourne **do** on a cruise off Jervis Bay?
She sails on the briny blue with the Voyager in the way.
So, it's hard a-port **for who'd have thought?**
On a peaceful summer's night
The destroyer would sail or a carrier failed
To give way on the right.

Oh, the weather was fair for a bosun's chair,
So the admiral went for a ride.
He **piped** all hands to elastic bands
That loomed on the starboard side.

The ship *cries he** tis the enemy
**Whatever shall I do?**
So they cut her in half, just for a laugh,
And drowned a third of the crew.

Pipe the compass, port the **helm**(?)
All that nautical stuff.
The whistle shrieked and the captain - "bleeped?**
To the bridge in **an awful** huff

**Crying East(??)** by west is the course that's best
So, come on, all you men
There was great distress in the officers' mess
That night in the R.A.N.


Second song:

HMAS Melbourne goes sailing the world
With its radar antenna and its Ensign unfurled.
Here is a fact that I'm sure will astound
The Melbourne goes over what the others go 'round.

CHORUS
And it's duck for cover
Quickly before she arrives.
Here comes the Melbourne my jolly brave tars
So swim, swim for your lives.

There's a man on the Melbourne
And he gets double pay.
His job is to keep shouting
"Out of the way!"
Sing ho for a carrier out on the blue
If you gets in their way they will cut you in two.

CHORUS

Now all you destroyers take a warning by me.
Beware when the Melbourne is out on the sea.
Subs go below, planes above and it's true
Other ships go around but the Melbourne goes through.

CHORUS

And sing with pride of the suicide
And cheer for the Commonwealth
Who needs a war there's a wind offshore
We'll go and sink ourself, we'll go and sink ourself.