The Last Shanty (A Sailor Ain't A Sailor)

This song was written by British singer and writer of nautical songs Tom Lewis and released on his 1987 album *Surfacing!*. It has since become very popular among folk musicians and been covered by numerous artists. The Longest Johns' version is based on the Fisherman's Friends arrangement.

## Factoids

**Civvies**: Civilian clothes

**Killick**: Leading Seaman. It comes from a word for a type of anchor; the nickname is derived from the fact that the Leading Seaman's rank badge was once a fouled anchor.

**Mainyard**: a spar (wooden bar) to which a mainsail is attached. This line is referring to the fact that sailing ships have been replaced by steam- and diesel-powered ones.

**Aldiss lamp**: a lamp used to send visual signals, often using Morse code; though still sometimes used as backup, these have been largely supplanted by radio communication.

**Bunting-tosser**: "bunting" now refers to any small decorative flags strung together, but originally referred specifically to naval signal flags; the "bunting-tosser" was the sailor responsible for hoisting them, but now that flags are no longer a primary form of communication, it refers to a naval signaller more generally.

## Lyrics

Based on the version performed by TLJ on their livestreams.

>
> My father often told me when I was just a lad
>
> A sailor's life was very hard, the food was always bad
>
> But now I've joined the navy aboard a man-o-war
>
> And now I find a sailor ain't a sailor any more
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
> Don't haul on the ropes, don't climb up the mast
>
> If you see a sailing ship it might be your last
>
> Get your civvies ready for another round ashore
>
> A sailor ain't a sailor, ain't a sailor any more
>
>
>
> The killick of our mess he says we've got it soft
>
> 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?
>
> Swinging from the deckhead, or lying on the floor?
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> They gave us an engine that first went up and down
>
> With some new technology the engine went around
>
> We're good with steam and diesel, but what's a mainyard for?
>
> A stoker ain't a stoker with a shovel anymore
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> They gave us an Aldiss lamp so we could do it right
>
> They gave us a radio to signal day and night
>
> We know our codes and ciphers but what's a semaphore?
>
> A bunting-tosser doesn't toss the bunting anymore
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> Well, two pints of beer a day and that's your bleeding lot
>
> They gave us another one because we swabbed the top
>
> So get on your civvy clothes, we'll find a pub ashore
>
> A sailor's still a sailor just like he was before
>
>
>
> {Chorus 2x}
>
>
>
>

## Recordings

#### Full Band Streams

* The Longest Johns and Friends, April. w/Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith (30 Apr 2019)
* TLJ & Friends! | Natalie Holmes (27 Nov 2019)
* Last Stream Before Album Launch! (27 May 2020)
* Amazing Technicolor Stream-coat!! (7 Jul 2021)
* Blue Stream of Death! (29 Jun 2022)
* Streamworks (18 Jan 2023)
* Do Androids Stream of Electric Sheep (3 Aug 2023)

#### Gaming Streams

* Sea of Sings LIVE (31 Mar 2021)

1. ↑ https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/civvy
2. ↑ https://www.readyayeready.com/jackspeak/termview.php?id=223
3. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal\_lamp
4. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunting\_tosser