D.E.M.S. (Who wrote this ?)

[Brian Galloway]

Anyone know the author of this? I can't remember where I copied it from. I'm gettin' worse
Brian

[Keith at Tregenna]

You have a differing version of Song of the Merchant Navy in Wartime


LINK: http://www.merchant-navy.net/forum/f...-wartime-4721/

Song of the Merchant Navy in Wartime

You have seen him on the Street,
Rolling round on drunken feet,
You have seen him clutch the lamp-post for support,
You have shuddered in disgust,
When he’s grovelled in the dust,
‘Cause he’s just a Merchant Seaman back in port.

You have seen his ship in port,
When to his sweetheart paying court,
You have seen him, when his ship is on the spree,
But you have not seen the clip,
Of that lonely ‘blacked out’ ship,
Ploughing furrows through the mine infested sea.

He has brought your wounded home, through the “ Sub “, congested zone,
He has carried your troops across the sea by night,
He’s a hero and a sport,
And when he is not in port,
He is always in the thickest of the fight.

He has fought your wicked ‘Hun’,
With just a 4: 7 inch gun,
He has ruined Hitler’s Atllantic Ocean plan,
But when he is back in port,
He’s no hero, he’s no sport,
He is nothing……..but a drunken Sailor man.

LINK: http://archives.cbc.ca/programs/489-9192/page/1/

[Brian Galloway]

The one I posted is slightly different Keith but I suppose most of the wartime songs got changed around quite a lot to suit the occasion. (like Col. Bogey etc.) I think I possibly downloaded my version from the Belfast Forum but not sure.
Thanks Keith.
I know...why not start a 'singalong' thread with musical backing. On second thoughts .......... NO!
Regards
BG

[Keith at Tregenna]

LINK: Merchant Navy Show | Program | Radio | CBC Archives

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Brian
This could have been written by a Person called Wilf Hoskin,
but i am not absolutely certain as it comes from some text from someone else! who's Dad received that from this Wilf! (It was signed by him)??
Cheers

[Keith at Tregenna]

"Dedicated to the Merchant Navy"

No it isn't in the papers and you do not always know,
Where to find the Merchant Navy, you address them c/o G.P.O.
For today you can't be certain where tomorrow they may be,
Yesterday they were somewhere, and the day before at sea.

You have seen him in the street rolling groggy on his feet,
You have seen him grab a lampost for support,
You have seen him arm in arm with a maid of doubtful charm
Who was steering him back safely in to port.

You shudder with disgust, as dead drunk he hits the dust,
You scorn him as you see him on the spree,
But you never see the trip on that dark and lonely ship,
Ploughing furrows through a mine infested sea.

You cheer the Airforce lads and the Navy Ironclads,
You give a cheer to the lads in Khaki too,
But you tremble and you funk when a Merchant Ship is sunk,
And you never give a damn about the crew.

You moan about the cost of the vessels that are lost,
It puts you in a pessimistic mood,
You forget to say "Well Done" or to congratulate the one,
Who brought the Wife and Kiddies home the food.

He has brought the old ship home through a sub infested zone,
He has braved the English Channel with troops for France,
He fights the lurking hun, with his four point seven gun,
And you never think he takes a bloody chance.

You will find the Merchant Navy when the ship's come in from sea
With wheat and meat for fighting men and sugar for your tea,
Think precious cargoes landed from "Across the rolling main",
A few brief days in port and off to sea again.

For him no flags you wave, he's not thought of with the brave,
But he will help to beat old Adolf just the same,
Yes you hate him when he's drunk, None give a damn when he's been sunk,
Yet he's the kind that puts the GREAT in Britain's name.

Apparently this version of the poem was signed "Wilf Hoskin"

Would hazzard a guess this may be pretty original?

First time I have heard of the DEMS version.

[Keith at Tregenna]

For Brian: Thanks for posting this.

For all MN and D.E.M.S

I am typing out from Brian's pic in tribute, I will add author unknown lest we find out more.

Meanwhile post for all and in tribute, it really is to special to miss.

For Them:

“THE D.E.M.S.”

Dedicated to the Merchant Service

No! It isn’t in the paper – and you do not always know
Where to find the DEMS – you just address them “C/O – GPO.”
For TODAY you can’t be certain where tomorrow they will be
For YESTERDAY they were “somewhere” - and the day before “at sea”

You have seen him on the Street rolling groggy on his feet
You have seen him grab the pavement for support
You have watched him arm in arm with a dame of doubtful charm
Who was steering “Johnny” safely into port

You shudder with disgust as dead drunk he hits the dust
You scorn when you see him on a spree
But you never see the trip on that dark and lonely ship
Ploughing furrows through the mine - infested sea

You cheer your airforce lads, in their well - armed iron clads
You give a cheer to the boys in khaki too
You tremble in a funk when you read D.E.M.S. sunk
But you never give a damn about the crew

You moan about the cost of the vessels that are lost
It puts you in a pessimistic mood
You forget to say “well done” or congratulate the one
Who brings the wives and kiddies home their food

He had brought the old tramp home thru - the Sub infested zone
He had braved the channel with the Troops for France
He fights the lurking Hun with a four point seven gun
Yet - you don’t consider that He takes a chance

You’ll find the DEMS where the big ships come in from sea
With “WHEAT AND MEAT AND FIGHTING MEN” - and sugar for your tea
They bring their cargoes from far across the rolling main
A brief few days they stay in port - then off to sea again

For him no flags you wave, He’s not tho’t of with the brave
But he’ll help to beat “Old Adolf” at his game
Yes - you hate him when he’s drunk and no one cares if he gets sunk
He’s the king that puts the “Great” in Britain’s name


AUTHOR UNKNOWN YET!

K.