A Sailor's Not A Sailor ('Til A Sailor's Been Tattooed) Songtext / Lyric

As sung by Mitzi Gaynor and Ethel Merman:]



[MERMAN:] I'm an old salt

[GAYNOR:] I'm a young salt

[BOTH:] In the Navy we've been working very hard

[MERMAN:] I was part of the Flotilla with Dewey in Manila

[GAYNOR:] I'm a new recruit at the Brooklyn Navy yard



[BOTH:] Tonight we're on a spree and feeling flow'ry

[BOTH:] We've got a date with gals and drink and food

[GAYNOR:] Across the Brooklyn Bridge and to the Bow'ry

[MERMAN:] And I'm gonna get the kid tattooed

[GAYNOR:] Tattooed?

[MERMAN:] Tattooed!

[BOTH:] A sailor's not a sailor 'til a sailor's been tattooed






[MERMAN:]

Here's an anchor from a tanker

That I sailed upon when first I went to sea

Here's another of my mother

Takes me back to when I sat upon her knee

Here's a crimson heart with a Cupid's dart

Here's a Battle Cruiser and when I sit down

On that, too

There's a tattoo

Of my home town



[GAYNOR:] To the Bow'ry

[MERMAN:] To the Bow'ry

[GAYNOR:] 'Cross the Brooklyn Bridge and I'm just in the mood



[MERMAN:]

He'll be filled with diff'rent mixtures

And covered up with pictures



[GAYNOR:]

I can't wait to be, 'twill be great to be tattooed



[MERMAN:] Tattooed?

[GAYNOR:] Tattooed!

[BOTH:] A sailor's not a sailor 'til a sailor's been tattooed