A Sailor Ain't A Sailor chords by Traditional

Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)

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!