Origins: A Sailor Ain't a Sailor (Tom Lewis)

Subject: Lyrics req: Sea Chantey
From: Len Wallace
Date: 30 Sep 99 - 01:48 AM

There is a sea chantey I need lyrics for. I don't know the name, but the last line to it leads:

"a sailor ain't a sailor ain't a sailor anymore!"

please help

Subject: RE: Lyrics req: Sea Chantey
From: Barbara
Date: 30 Sep 99 - 01:52 AM

It's here in the database. I found it by putting [sailor ain't] in the search box. Or if youre lazy you can click here.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyrics req: Sea Chantey
From: Len Wallace
Date: 30 Sep 99 - 01:58 AM

Barbara,

Many thanks! I took the lazy way out :)

Boy, was I ashamed! The song was written by my friend Tom!

Subject: RE: Lyrics req: Sea Chantey
From: poet
Date: 30 Sep 99 - 06:49 PM

now that suprises me, for years I thought Shep Woolley wrote that, well you live and learn.

Graham

Subject: RE: Lyrics req: Sea Chantey
From: scoattie
Date: 01 Oct 99 - 03:17 AM

would that be Tom Waites?

Subject: RE: Lyrics req: Sea Chantey
From: Wotcha
Date: 01 Oct 99 - 06:23 AM

Tom Lewis. A great version is rendered by Connecticut's own Ancient Mariners ... check it out.

Cheers, Brian

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Sailor Ain't a Sailor (Tom Lewis)
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Nov 09 - 11:35 PM

I love Mudcat. My Rog was just listening to this song in Second Life. There was no name for it or for the very good performers. I told him I could find the song, at least, on Mudcat...and here it 'tis. Thanks! Great song!

Subject: From DT: A Sailor Ain't a Sailor (Tom Lewis)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Apr 21 - 07:11 PM

A SAILOR AIN'T A SAILOR
(Tom Lewis)

Well, me father always told me, when I was just a lad,
A sailor's life was very hard, the food was always bad.
But now I've joined the Navy, I'm aboard a Man o' War
And now I find 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.
Get your civvies ready for another run ashore.
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor any more.

We've nearly got a mess. He says we have it soft.
It wasn't like this in his day when he was up aloft.
We like our bunks and sleeping bags, but what's a hammock for?
Swinging on the deckhead or lying on the floor?

They gave us engines that first went up and down.
Then with more technology the engines went around.
We know of steam and diesel but what's a mainyard for?
A stoker ain't a stoker with a shovel any more.

They gave us an Aldis lamp so we could do it right.
They gave us a radio to signal day and night.
We know our codes and ciphers, but what's a semaphore?
The bunting tosser doesn't toss the bunting any more.

Two cans of beer a day and that's your bleeding lot.
Now we get an extra one because they've stopped the tot.
So we'll put on our civvy clothes and find a pub ashore.
A sailor's still a sailor, just like he was before.

Copyright Tom Lewis
@sailor @nostalgia
filename[ SAILAINT
GK
apr96

Any corrections needed?