Misc Traditional – A Sailor Aint A Sailor (Guitar)

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Chords

[Verse 1]
G                        
My father often told me, when I was just a lad,

                               A                   D
A sailor's life was very hard, the food was always bad;

G
But now I've joined the navy, I'm on board a man-o-war,

                                A      D   G
And now I find a sailor ain't a sailor any more!
[Chorus]
       G
Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast,

A                             D
If you see a sailing ship, it might be your last;

G
Get your civvies ready for another run ashore,

G                                A      D   G
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor any more!
[Verse 2]
      G
The 'killick' of our mess, he says we've had it soft,

    G                            A              D
It wasn't like this in his day, when he was up aloft;

G
We like our bunks and sleeping bags, but what's a hammock for?

G                               A      D      G
Swinging from the deckhead, or lying on the floor?
[Chorus]
       G
Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast,

A                             D
If you see a sailing ship, it might be your last;

G
Get your civvies ready for another run ashore,

                                 A      D   G
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor any more!
[Verse 3]
      G                     G
They gave us an engine that first went up and down,

G                              A              D 
Then with more technology the engine went around;

       G
We're good with steam and diesel, but what's a mainyard for?

                               A      D   G
A stoker ain't a stoker with a shovel any more!
[Chorus]
       G
Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast,

A                             D
If you see a sailing ship, it might be your last;

G
Get your civvies ready for another run ashore,

G                                A      D   G
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor any more!
[Verse 4]
       G
They gave us an Aldis Lamp, we can do it right,

G                     A                 D
They gave us a radio, we signal day and night;

G
We know our codes and ciphers, but what's a 'sema' for?

                                    A       D   G
A 'bunting-tosser' doesn't toss the bunting any more!
[Chorus]
       G
Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast,

A                             D
If you see a sailing ship, it might be your last;

G
Get your civvies ready for another run ashore,

G                                A      D   G
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor any more!
[Verse 5]
     G
They gave us a radar set to pierce the fog and gloom,

   A                               D
So now the lookout's sitting in a tiny darkened room;

G
Loran does navigation, the Sonar says how deep,

                                            A        D     G 
The Jimmy's three sheets to the wind, the Skipper's fast asleep.
[Chorus]
       G
Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast,

A                             D
If you see a sailing ship, it might be your last;

G
Get your civvies ready for another run ashore,

G                                A      D   G
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor any more!
[Verse 6]
G
Two cans of beer a day, that's your bleeding lot!

A                           D
But now we get an extra one because they stopped the tot;

G
So, we'll put on our civvy-clothes and find a pub ashore,

                                A         D   G
A sailor's still a sailor, just like he was before!
[Chorus]
       G
Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast,

A                             D
If you see a sailing ship, it might be your last;

G
Get your civvies ready for another run ashore,

G                                A      D   G
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor any more!