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A Sailor Aint A Sailor

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[Verse 1]
GMy father often told me, when I was just a lad,
A sailor's life was very hard, Athe food was always Dbad;
GBut now I've joined the navy, I'm on board a man-o-war,
And now I find a sailor ain't a Asailor Dany Gmore!
[Chorus]
Don't hGaul on the rope, don't climb up the mast,
AIf you see a sailing ship, it Dmight be your last;
GGet your civvies ready for another run ashore,
GA sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a Asailor Dany Gmore!
[Verse 2]
The 'kGillick' of our mess, he says we've had it soft,
It wGasn't like this in his day, wAhen he was up aDloft;
GWe like our bunks and sleeping bags, but what's a hammock for?
GSwinging from the deckhead, or lAying on Dthe flGoor?
[Chorus]
Don't hGaul on the rope, don't climb up the mast,
AIf you see a sailing ship, it Dmight be your last;
GGet your civvies ready for another run ashore,
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a Asailor Dany Gmore!
[Verse 3]
They gGave us an engine that Gfirst went up and down,
GThen with more technology the eAngine went arouDnd;
We're gGood with steam and diesel, but what's a mainyard for?
A stoker ain't a stoker with a Ashovel Dany Gmore!
[Chorus]
Don't hGaul on the rope, don't climb up the mast,
AIf you see a sailing ship, it Dmight be your last;
GGet your civvies ready for another run ashore,
GA sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a Asailor Dany Gmore!
[Verse 4]
They gaGve us an Aldis Lamp, we can do it right,
GThey gave us a radio, Awe signal day and Dnight;
GWe know our codes and ciphers, but what's a 'sema' for?
A 'bunting-tosser' doesn't toss the Abunting Dany Gmore!
[Chorus]
Don't hGaul on the rope, don't climb up the mast,
AIf you see a sailing ship, it Dmight be your last;
GGet your civvies ready for another run ashore,
GA sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a Asailor Dany Gmore!
[Verse 5]
They Ggave us a radar set to pierce the fog and gloom,
So Anow the lookout's sitting in a tDiny darkened room;
GLoran does navigation, the Sonar says how deep,
The Jimmy's three sheets to the wind, the SkAipper's fDast asGleep.
[Chorus]
Don't hGaul on the rope, don't climb up the mast,
AIf you see a sailing ship, it Dmight be your last;
GGet your civvies ready for another run ashore,
GA sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a Asailor Dany Gmore!
[Verse 6]
GTwo cans of beer a day, that's your bleeding lot!
ABut now we get an extra one Dbecause they stopped the tot;
GSo, we'll put on our civvy-clothes and find a pub ashore,
A sailor's still a sailor, just Alike he waDs beGfore!
[Chorus]
Don't hGaul on the rope, don't climb up the mast,
AIf you see a sailing ship, it Dmight be your last;
GGet your civvies ready for another run ashore,
GA sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a Asailor Dany Gmore!

All chords in this song (3)

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A Sailor Aint A Sailor

by Misc Traditional

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Verse 1]

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;

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]

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;

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]

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;

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]

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;

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;

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]

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;

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]

They gave us an Aldis Lamp, we can do it right,

G A D

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

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]

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;

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]

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;

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]

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;

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]

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;

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]

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;

Get your civvies ready for another run ashore,

G A D G

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

About A Sailor Aint A Sailor Chords by Misc Traditional

Learn how to play A Sailor Aint A Sailor by Misc Traditional with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “A Sailor Aint A Sailor chords”, “A Sailor Aint A Sailor guitar chords”, or “Misc Traditional A Sailor Aint A Sailor chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy A Sailor Aint A Sailor chords and for experienced players who want accurate A Sailor Aint A Sailor lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, A, D.

FAQ — A Sailor Aint A Sailor by Misc Traditional

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