Shanty Man
Now modern ships carry mighty funny gear
And away, get away, you shanty man!
Ain't seen a halyard for many's a year
And they got no use for a shanty man
Slick new fittings are all your style
And away, get away, you shanty man!
All very clever, but they just ain't right
And they got no use for a shanty man
Shanty man, oh shanty man!
Who's got a berth for a shanty man?
Sing you a song of a world gone wrong
When they got no use for a shanty man
The cargo’s stored in a polythene pack
And away, get away, you shanty man!
Raised and lowered by a dry bollard jack
And they got no use for a shanty man
Floating computer dressed as a ship
And away, get away, you shanty man!
Skippered and crewed by a microchip
And they got no use for a shanty man
Shanty man, oh shanty man!
Who's got a berth for a shanty man?
Sing you a song of a world gone wrong
When they got no use for a shanty man
Soon they'll be sailin' by remote control
And away, get away, you shanty man!
And that'll be pleasin' for the owner's soul
And they got no use for a shanty man
They’ll send their shiiips from dock to dock
And away, get away, you shanty man!
While sat upon their arse in an office block
And they got no use for a shanty man
Shanty man, oh shanty man!
Who's got a berth for a shanty man?
Sing you a song of a world gone wrong
When they got no use for a shanty man
A sailor's life it once was hard
And away, get away, you shanty man!
Up there on a topsail yard
And they got no use for a shanty man
Now it don't matter if the wind blow high
And away, get away, you shanty man!
You can take force ten with your feet still dry
And they got no use for a shanty man
Shanty man, oh shanty man!
Who's got a berth for a shanty man?
Sing you a song of a world gone wrong
When they got no use for a shanty man
New-fangled gear's no use to you
And away, get away, you shanty man!
When you're off Cape Horn with your faces blue
And they got no use for a shanty man
Then's the time you rue the day
And away, get away, you shanty man!
You sent your shanty man away
And they got no use for a shanty man
Shanty man, oh shanty man!
Who's got a berth for a shanty man?
Sing you a song of a world gone wrong
When they got no use for a shanty man
Listen at night and you might hear
And away, get away, you shanty man! (quietly sung)
A ghostly sound on a cool night air
And they got no use for a shanty man
Was it a ghost from a distant past
And away, get away, you shanty man!
Or just a breeze in the radar mast? (build up to loud)
And they got no use for a shanty man
Shanty man, oh shanty man!
Who's got a berth for a shanty man?
Sing you a song of a world gone wrong
When they got no use for a shanty man
Shanty man, oh shanty man!
Who's got a berth for a shanty man?
Sing you a song of a world gone wrong
When they got no use for a shanty man