Josephine The Baker – Great Big Sea

So…I started with my father, a shoreman in his crew
On a 30 ft long-liner off the coast of Baccalieu.
Next there was a trowler, til they closed the fishery down.
Had to sign up for the ‘package’, and take a berth in

My dad said “join the Navy”, things’ll never be the same
Every day’s exciting, out on the hounding main.
But my first hitch was a rough one,
The ‘okie’ was a harsh old tub,
And every hand aboard he’s trying to transfer off that sub.

I finally made the ‘Huron’, she’s the envy of the fleet,
Monster guns, a hearty crew, and the skipper can’t be beat.
The best thing was the ladies, when they let them join the ship,
From the hair boys to the ‘XO’, all hands enjoyed the trip.

And down in the galley,
I can hear them start a song,
The hands are getting rowdy
Everybody sings along.
She’ll be handed out the honey,
And the sugar, till it’s gone
And Josephine The Baker will be cookin’ all night long

When we’re in for spruce-up, no one wants to go ashore,
They’re queued up in the galley, 30 hands and sometimes more,
Even the old hosun put his nose in thru the door,
There’s no room for the timid,
If you want to dip an oar.

Well…now my hitch is over, and for Halifax I’m bound
Won’t miss the storms, the sailors, or the thought of being drowned.
But there’s one thing I’ll be thinking
Before I run aground, –
I’ll steer to Josephine The Baker,
And I’ll have another round.