Navy

At 17 and a half i remember well, travelling to Sydney and it was all new,
And rocking up at Defence Force recruiting, for tests and an interview,
To join the Navy and see the world, following the foot steps of my dad,
Little did i know that way back when, it would be the best fun that i ever had.

Recruit school was a bit scary, the parade commander shouting some orders,
I didn't know much of this marching stuff, i was here to defend our borders,
But in we went and gathered all around, everything so far seemed so fine,
Then they asked us to read over some things. and sign on some dotted lines.

Now it was off to get my haircut, a number one sir if you would please,
I swear the amount of hair shaved off, a pile that went up to my knees,
And then off to stores and collect my kit, and came with my very own stamp,
Everything was marked with my name on it, "your white undies too there champ!".

Then we started learning things, like how they speak in Navies tongue,
And then learning about our creases, our self domestics now had begun,
Showing us as they ironed a shirt, with crisp or with some fabulon,
And how to spit polish our parade boots, the list went on and on.

Friendships were formed in the gravel pit, shore leave together in town,
Having fun and laughs with your mates, and cheering them up when they were down,
For this marked a turn in life, and soon in the world we would roam,
For some this was a scary time, and the very first time away from home.

When CAT school came, some of my friends left south, but they wouldn't be gone for long,
For when that had finished postings were given to us, we all just moved on on,
It was great to see recruit school mates, out there at your new postings,
And see the rougher s first hand out of the heads, the ship pitching and rolling.

I look out and see the familiar sight, the gun-line down off Nowra way,
Point Perp again you would hear them say, we are in for another long bloody day,
Workup, practice, train and drill, we were always graced by the team of green,
The days and days of zombie like men, 8 hours is what we'd dream.

Through all the training and the drills, there were times sitting on the upper deck,
A coffee in hand and a smoke or two, it was a quiet zone to reflect,
And just when you thought you've worked so hard, and thought that you would cave,
The relaxing blue would listen to you, and maybe a dolphin would grace a wave.

What goes on up top does stay up top, unless you have a surprise to show the wife,
Because as soon as you needed to see the medic, you knew you might lose your life,
The beer was warm and the girls were there, was there anything else to really do,
Old cranky over there has got the shits, and then he tries to start a blue.

Punches exchanged and profanities said, and blood coming from this and that,
Now that it is all over now, let's have a beer and sing, an eyelid would not be bat,
The kickboxing and the ping pong balls, and the sailors running a muck,
We worked hard played hard and stayed hard, and i wish you all the best of luck.