[Verse 1]
Well me father often told me when I was just a lad
A sailor's life is very hard, the food is always bad
But now I've joined the navy, I'm aboard a man-o-war
And now I've found a sailor, ain't a sailor anymore

[Chorus]
Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast
If you see a sailing ship it might be your last
Just get your civies ready for another run ashore
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor anymore

[Verse 2]
Well the killock of our mess he says we had it soft
It wasn't like that in his day when we were up aloft
We like our bunks and sleeping bags, but what's a hammock for?
Swinging from the deckhead, or lying on the floor?

[Chorus]
Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast
If you see a sailing ship it might be your last
Just get your civies ready for another run ashore
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor anymore

[Verse 3]
They gave us an engine that first went up and down
Then with more technology, the engine went around
We know our steam and diesel but what's a mainyard for?
A stoker ain't a stoker with a shovel anymore
[Chorus]
Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast
If you see a sailing ship it might be your last
Just get your civies ready for another run ashore
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor anymore

[Verse 4]
They gave us an Aldiss lamp so we could do it right
They gave us a radio, we signaled day and night
We know our codes and ciphers, but what's a semaphore?
A bunting-tosser doesn't toss a bunting anymore

[Chorus]
Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast
If you see a sailing ship it might be your last
Just get your civies ready for another run ashore
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor anymore

[Verse 5]
Two cans of beer a day and that's your bleedin' lot
And now we get an extra one because they stopped the tot
So we'll put on our civvy clothes, find a pub ashore
A sailor's just a sailor just like he was before

[Chorus]
Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast
If you see a sailing ship it might be your last
Just get your civies ready for another run ashore
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor anymore
[Chorus]
Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast
If you see a sailing ship it might be your last
Just get your civies ready for another run ashore
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor anymore

[Outro]
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor anymore
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor anymore
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor anymore, ha!