My Ship
By Clinton J. McGerr

To you she's just another "can
Out there in the harbor.
Maybe you noticed her graceful
Lines and trim figure.
But that's all -
To you, she's just another "can"

But not to me! She's my ship,
The best damned ship in the fleet,
With the best damned crew in the fleet.

So you want to know why I feel that way?
Well, when you've sailed on her to hell and back,
And stood a thousand watches on her,
And beat your chops a thousand times with guys on her -
Then you, too, will say
She's the best damned ship in the fleet.

And when you've been through a battle on her,
And been through a bombing on her,
And at times been scared as hell on her;
When you've had an argument and been on a drunk
With pretty near every guy on her -
When all this has happened,
Then you'll say, "She's my ship".

And when you say that,
There'll be a catch in your throat,
For you'll be proud of her -
And her crew, And yourself -
And you'll say, "She's my ship,
The best damned ship in the fleet".