ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION

In Memorium

THE SAILOR'S LAMENT

ON A SAILOR'S GRAVE, NO ROSES GROW, NO GRASS, NO STONE TO SHOW
THE RESTING PLACE THAT WILL ALWAYS BE, HIS BILLET IN THE SEA
THE SILENT SHARK STANDS WATCH, FOR ALL ETERNITY
SO LONELY HE WILL NEVER BE, IN THAT BILLET IN THE SEA


HE SALLIED FORTH WHILE YOUNG AT HEART TO SAIL UPON THE SEA
TO FALL IN LOVE WITH A MIGHTY SHIP, A MISTRESS THAT WILL ALWAYS BE
STRONG IN HIS HEART SHE TREATS HIM WELL,
AWAY FROM LAND THAT HE FINDS HELL
SO SHARE HIM WELL LASSIE, SOME THINGS JUST HAVE TO BE
"A SAILOR'S PLACE IS ON HIS SHIP, AND THE SHIP MUST SAIL THE SEA"


FROM NORFOLK EAST TO HONG KONG WEST, THE OCEANS HE DID ROAM
ON TOP OF WAVES AND UNDERNEATH, HE ALWAYS FELT AT HOME
THE PLEASURES SOUGHT IN FAR OFF PARTS, WOULD MAKE SOME SALTY TALES
WITH "YOU SPEAK JOE" AND THE FEEL GOOD PITCH
AS THE LADIES MADE THEIR SALES
WHEN SAFE ON BOARD AND LEAVING HE KNEW IT HAD TO BE
"A SAILOR'S PLACE IS ON HIS SHIP, AND THE SHIP MUST SAIL THE SEA"


WHILE ONCE ON SHORE, HIS PLACE OF BIRTH HE TRAVELED BACK TO SEE
HE FELL IN LOVE WITH A PRETTY LASS, HIS BRIDE SHE CAME TO BE
HE WONDERED HOW TO TELL HER WHILE SITTING AT THE PIER
HIS OTHER LOVE WAS WAITING, THE CRUISE TO LAST A YEAR
NO TEARS WERE SHED AS FAREWELLS WERE SAID, SHE KNEW IT HAD TO BE
"A SAILOR'S PLACE IS ON HIS SHIP, AND THE SHIP MUST SAIL THE SEA"


AS YEARS WENT BY THEY LEARNED TO SHARE, A LIFE UNIQUE TO FEW
HE GAVE HIS ALL WHEN OUT TO SEA AND DID THE SAME ASHORE
SHE BECAME BOTH MOM AND POP, AND HAD TO LEARN MUCH MORE
TO FIX THE CAR, TO STOP THE LEAK, DON'T LET THE CHILDREN ROAM
FOR SUCH IT WAS THOSE LONELY DAYS WHEN HE WAS NOT AT HOME
THEY TRAVELED FAR WITH SUDDEN MOVES, BUT KNEW IT HAD TO BE
"A SAILOR'S PLACE IS ON HIS SHIP, AND THE SHIP MUST SAIL THE SEA"


RETIREMENT YEARS HAD COME AND GONE, JUST ONE LAST CRUISE TO TAKE,
NO BAGS TO PACK, NO CIGARETTES, AND NO MORE PORTS TO MAKE
SO LOVED ONES SHED NO TEARS TODAY, THIS IS WHERE HE WANTS TO BE,
JUST FOREVER CRUISING THE WAVES, WAY DOWN BENEATH THE SEA