Nathan Evans - The Last Shanty

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

Don't haul on the rope, don't climb up the mast
And if you see a sailing ship, it might be your last
Just get your civvies** ready for another run ashore
A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor anymore

Well, the killick*** of our mess, he says we have 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?
Swingin' from the deckhead or lyin' on the floor

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

They gave us an engine that first went up and down
And then with more technology, the engine went around
We know our steam and diesels but what's a mainyard for?
A stoker ain't a stoker with a shovel anymore

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

Two cans of beer a day and that's your bleeding lot
And now I've got an extra one because they stopped the tot****
So, we'll put on our civvy-clothes and find a pub ashore
A sailor's just a sailor just like he was before

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

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


* A large frigate or warship of the British Royal Navy in use from the 16th through the 19th century.

** A slang term for "civilian clothes", i.e. non-uniform clothing.

*** A slang term for the Leading Seaman

****A slang term for the former rum ration of the British Royal Navy. Sailors were given one tot (~71 mL) of rum per day at around noon. The practice was abolished in 1970 over concerns about operating heavy or complex machinery after consuming alcohol.
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