Berlin Irving
There's No Business Like Show Business (1954)
Sailor's Not A Sailor ('til A Sailor's Been Tattoo
[As sung by Mitzi Gaynor and Ethel Merman:]
[MERMAN:] I'm an old salt
[GAYNOR:] I'm a young salt
[BOTH:] In the Navy we've been working very hard
[MERMAN:] I was part of the Flotilla with Dewey in Manila
[GAYNOR:] I'm a new recruit at the Brooklyn Navy yard
[BOTH:] Tonight we're on a spree and feeling flow'ry
[BOTH:] We've got a date with gals and drink and food
[GAYNOR:] Across the Brooklyn Bridge and to the Bow'ry
[MERMAN:] And I'm gonna get the kid tattooed
[GAYNOR:] Tattooed?
[MERMAN:] Tattooed!
[BOTH:] A sailor's not a sailor 'til a sailor's been tattooed
[MERMAN:]
Here's an anchor from a tanker
That I sailed upon when first I went to sea
Here's another of my mother
Takes me back to when I sat upon her knee
Here's a crimson heart with a Cupid's dart
Here's a Battle Cruiser and when I sit down
On that, too
There's a tattoo
Of my home town
[GAYNOR:] To the Bow'ry
[MERMAN:] To the Bow'ry
[GAYNOR:] 'Cross the Brooklyn Bridge and I'm just in the mood
[MERMAN:]
He'll be filled with diff'rent mixtures
And covered up with pictures
[GAYNOR:]
I can't wait to be, 'twill be great to be tattooed
[MERMAN:] Tattooed?
[GAYNOR:] Tattooed!
[BOTH:] A sailor's not a sailor 'til a sailor's been tattooed