Maurice Brown Kirby — Skipper Schley

We don’t know overmuch o’ charts or maps We’re sure our mathematics ain’t complete We’re just a lot of ordinary chaps Like you’ll find in almost any U. S. fleet We never studied naval strategee We never even seen a battle’s plan; But we’ve sailed wid more brave skippers than you’ve fingers on your flippers An’ we think we’ve learnt enough to know a man Then here’s to Skipper Schley Drink, my dears! Wе’ve knowed him off an’ on For twenty yеars From his bottom to peak (It’s the Gawd’s own truth we speak!) There—ain’t—no—yeller—streak In Skipper Schley He was always might good an’ kind to us An’ you bet yer life we won’t forgot him now He is better in a fight than in a fuss An’ we wish that we could help him through his row; But the navy’s regulations don’t provide For common ’listed men to testify Wot we know we cannot tell, we kin only wish him well Wid the gang that wants to knife him of Skipper Schley An’ here’s a toast to you Skipper Schley! We know ye’re truest blue Skipper Schley! When they’re ’vestigatin’ you Let yer country hear yer crew Wot knows you through an’ through Skipper Schley! We was wid him in the tropics, day an’ night When the Greasers’ ships was hidin’ in the bay; We was wid him in the thickest o’ the fight When the Greasers’ ship come out to get away We seen him give his orders from the bridge When Death itself was starin’ in his face When the screamin’ shot an’ shell flew like spirits loose from hell An’ the connin’ tower was much the safer place So here’s the best o’ luck Skipper Schley! They can’t git by yer pluck Skipper Schley! They may call you every name They may write away yer fame But we love you just the same Skipper Schley!