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ť Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi?cid=101&fct=showf

ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi?fct=gotoforum&cid=101&fid=102

ť Topic: Song Of The P.T. Boats
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=230

SONG OF THE P.T. BOATS

SOME AUTHORS SING OF BATTLESHIPS
AND LAUD THEIR THUNDEROUS ROARS
THE TIN-CANS HAVE THEIR POETS
AND THE SUBS THEIR TROUBADORES.
THE CRUISORS HAVE THEIR HISTORIES
ENSHRINED IN HALLS OF TIME.
SO, IT SEEMS TO ME, POSTERITY
SHOULD HEAR A "P.T. RHYME".

'TIS TRUE THEY BE, AS YOU CAN SEE,
OF PEWEE BEAM AND LENGTH,
THEIR PLYWOOD SIDES KEEP OUT THE TIDES
BUT HAVE NO SHELL-PROOF STRINGTH;
THE BRAGGING BARDS OF THE BIG-SHIP YARDS
TOOK NO NOTE OF THEIR BIRTH,
BUT THE VICTORIES ON THE SEVEN SEAS
HAVE PROVEN THEIR FIGHTING WORTH.

YOU'LL FIND THEM SCATTERED 'ROUND THE EARTH
ON EVERY WARRING SITE,
THEY SKIP ALONG THE SUNLIT SEAS
AND PROWL THE DARKEST NIGHT;
THEY PUT THE SUN TO BED AT EVE
AND GREET IT IN THE MORN
FROM BERG-ENCIRCLED ICELAND BEACH
TO THE BLEAK SHORES OF CAPE HORN.

THEY CONVOY BOATS UP FROM THE SOUTH
AND SHEPHERD SHIPS 'ROUND THE POLE,
TROOPER AND CARGO CARRIER
THEY BRING THEM SAFE TO GOAL;
THEY ASK NO ODDS FROM BATTLE GODS,
AND THEY DON'T PICK THE SEAS THEY CRUISE,
ATLANTIC, PACIFIC AND ARTIC DEEPS
HAVE FELT THE THRUST OF THEIR SCREWS.

THEY AREN'T MADE FOR LONG RANGE BATTLE
AND THEY CARRY NO ARMOR BELT,
BUT BLUSTERING FOES REELED AT THE BLOWS
THESE IN-FIGHTING FOOLS HAVE DELT;
THEIR BATTLE RANGE IS A SHORT STONE-THROW,
AND THEIR FAVORITE SONG IS
THE SWISH AND CLANK OF A 'PRESSED-AIR TANK
THAT LAUNCHES A MARK VIII FISH.

IN THE HEAT-HAMMERED HELL OF GUADALCANAL
THEY PAVED THE WAY FOR THE MARINES,
THEY OPENED A BREACH ON SAVO BEACH
AND BROKE UP THE ENEMY SCREENS.
FROM TULAGI'S ROCKY SHORELINE
TO GAVUTU'S FORTRESSED ISLE
AND AROUND THROUGH SEALARK CHANNEL
THEY BLASTED A FOE TO THE MILE

OH THEY AREN'T AS BIG AS THE BATTLESHIPS
AND THEY AREN'T AS FAST AS THE PLANES,
BUT AS THE ENEMY CHECKS OFF HIS LOSSES
THE P.Ts. COUNT UP THEIR GAINS;
THEY ONLY CARRY A TEN MAN CREW
TIGHT CLAMPED IN A PLYWOOD SHELL
BUT THEY PACK A PUNCH THAT PRODUCES
PURE CONCENRATED HELL!

SOMEDAY, WHEN THE FIGHTING IS OVER
AND ALL OF THE BATTLES DONE,
WHEN THE FORCES OF RIGHT AND FREEDOM
WIPE OUT THE JAP AND HUN,
THEN THE MEN WHO WRITE THE HISTORIES
WILL BREAK OUT THEIR MAPS AND NOTES
AND SET DOWN THE SAGA OF CENTURIES----
THE TALE OF THE P.T. BOATS

ALMOR/FEMU

Posted By: Al Moore | Posted on: Jan 20, 2007 - 12:38pm
Total Posts: 6 | Joined: Oct 17, 2006 - 12:32pm

AL;
WHAT MUSIC WERE THE LYRICS SET TO?

Steve Tuhy

Posted By: Steve Tuhy | Posted on: Jan 22, 2007 - 8:26am
Total Posts: 114 | Joined: Oct 17, 2006 - 5:41am

All I have is a beat-up packet type writen papers. I am trying to make sense out of the words and will put them on as I get them deciphered. I doubt if they were put to music.... Al Moore

ALMOR/FEMU

Posted By: Al Moore | Posted on: Jan 22, 2007 - 8:53am
Total Posts: 6 | Joined: Oct 17, 2006 - 12:32pm

Auld Aung Syne seems to work with the words-

Posted By: compassrose | Posted on: Feb 4, 2007 - 6:08pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

COME TO THINK OF IT, "THE BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC" WITHOUT THE CHORUS SEEMS TO WORK, TOO.

Steve Tuhy

Posted By: Steve Tuhy | Posted on: Feb 5, 2007 - 6:00am
Total Posts: 114 | Joined: Oct 17, 2006 - 5:41am