A DOG'S LIFE
(Bob Zentz / Cicely Fox Smith - 1931)

Dogwatch - 2004


Oh, a sailor's life's a dog's life, an' that's the truth, says Bill
A sailor's life's a dog's life, look at it 'ow you will
You break your back with workin' for 'arf a coolie's pay
An' a sailor's life's a dog's life, look at it 'ow you may

There's mates to kick an' 'aze you, an' you darsen't 'it 'em back
There's cold to freeze your innards an' there's 'eat as burns you
black
There's junk as tough as green 'eart 'an weevils in the bread
An' fistin' frozen canvas till you're wishin' you were dead

But you bet I'm goin' to quit it next time I jump ashore
As soon as I strike ol' 'Frisco you won't see me no more
I'll set a course sou'westward to an island as I know
Where we laid once loadin' copra - might be twenty year ago

I'll lay out on the beach there where the sun is good an' 'ot
An' I won't need no more trousis when I've wore out them I've got
With a gunny round my middle an' a soul to call my own
I wouldn't charge my fortune for the King's upon his throne

But when we'd finished loading and sailing day came round
With the pilotboat alongside and the mud hook off the ground
And the towboat cast the hawser off and left us with a cheer
Why, there'd be Bill a-growling as he'd done for twenty year

Oh a sailor's life's a dog's life, an' that's a fact my son
'Is pay's no more'n a coolie's, 'is work is never done
But you bet I'm goin' to quit it fust chance as comes my way
For a sailor's life's a dog's life, look at it 'ow you may