A Sailor's Not a Sailor ('Til a Sailor's Been Tattooed) Songtext

von Irving Berlin

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