Mike Ford - When You`re The Skip

When you're the skip skip of the ship
And every ear and hand and mate's command
is waiting on the order of the captain
It's the Old Man since time began
Who'll navigate through every twist of fickle fate
or trick or trap that's set to happen
And opportunities abound for all good luck to run aground
You'll hear the sound Ha ha ha ho ha ha
Of laughter from a locker forty fathoms down
When you're the chief chief engineer
And everything that moves and every winch and gear
from stern to steer is your department
Each grunt and creak and diesel shriek
Will haunt your cares and dreams and sleep and burrow deep
And to your heart a devil's dart's sent
And opportunities abound for all good luck to run aground
You'll hear the sound Ha ha ha ho ha ha
Of laughter from a locker forty fathoms down
8 to 12 or 12 to 4 or 4 to 8
Then get what sleep you can
And get up and out and do it all again
4 to 8 or 8 to 12 or 12 to 4
And once you get to shore
You know it won't be long
Til there's a call to do it all once more
When you're the cook put down that book
'cause every Able Seaman, Porter, Tech and Mate
Is forced to wait on your souffle bowl
Or slab of steak or pie you make
Or every corned beef hash or ham or candied yam
That they can cram into their cake hole
And opportunities abound for all good luck to run aground
You'll hear the sound Ha ha ha ho ha ha
Of laughter from a locker forty fathoms down