Shanty Man

Modern ships carry mighty funny gear
(And away, get away, you shanty man!)
Ain't seen a halyard for many's a year
(And they got no use for a shanty man)
Slick new fittings are all your style
(And away, get away, you shanty man!)
All very clever, but they just ain't right
(And they got no use for a shanty man)

Shanty man, oh shanty man!
Who's got a berth for a shanty man?
Sing you a song of a world gone wrong
When they got no use for a shanty man

Levers to pull and buttons to press
(And away, get away, you shanty man!)
Real-life sailors who need 'em less
(And they got no use for a shanty man)
Floating computers dressed up as a ship
(And away, get away, you shanty man!)
Skippered and crewed by a microchip
(And they got no use for a shanty man)

Shanty man, oh shanty man!
Who's got a berth for a shanty man?
Sing you a song of a world gone wrong
When they got no use for a shanty man

Soon they'll be sailin' by remote control
(And away, get away, you shanty man!)
That'll be pleasin for the owner's soul
(And they got no use for a shanty man)
Send the ships from dock to dock
(And away, get away, you shanty man!)
While sat upon our arses in an office block
(And they got no use for a shanty man)

Shanty man, oh shanty man!
Who's got a berth for a shanty man?
Sing you a song of a world gone wrong
When they got no use for a shanty man

New-fangled gear's no use to you
(And away, get away, you shanty man!)
When you're off cape horn and your faces blue
(And they got no use for a shanty man)
Then's the time you rue the day
(And away, get away, you shanty man!)
You sent your shanty man away
(And they got no use for a shanty man)

Shanty man, oh shanty man!
Who's got a berth for a shanty man?
Sing you a song of a world gone wrong
When they got no use for a shanty man

A sailor's life it once was hard
(And away, get away, you shanty man!)
While laid out aloft on a topsail yard
(And they got no use for a shanty man)
Now it don't matter if the wind blow high
(And away, get away, you shanty man!)
You can take force ten with your feet still dry
(And they got no use for a shanty man)

Shanty man, oh shanty man!
Who's got a berth for a shanty man?
Sing you a song of a world gone wrong
When they got no use for a shanty man

Listen at night and you might hear
(And away, get away, you shanty man!)
A ghostly sound on a cool night air
(And they got no use for a shanty man)
Was it a ghost from a distant past
(And away, get away, you shanty man!)
Or just a breeze in the radar mast?
(And they got no use for a shanty man)

Shanty man, oh shanty man!
Who's got a berth for a shanty man?
Sing you a song of a world gone wrong
When they got no use for a shanty man