Pt109
(M. Wilkin and F. Burch)
In forty-three, they put to sea, thirteen men and Kennedy
Aboard the PT109, to fight the brazen enemy
And off the Isle of Olasana, in the straits beyond the "Roo"
A Jap destroyer in the night, cut the One-O-Nine in two.
cho: Smoke and fire upon the sea
Everywhere they looked was the enemy
The heathen gods of old Japan
Yeah, they thought they had the best of a mighty good man.
And on the coast of Kolombangara, looking through his telescope
Australia's Evans saw the battle; for the crew had little hope
Two were dead, some were wounded, all were clinging to the bow
Fightin' fire and a-fightin' water, tryin' to save their lives somehow.
McMahon the Irishman, was burned so badly he couldn't swim
Leave me here, go on he said, 'cause if you don't, we'll all be dead
The PT skipper couldn't leave him, a man to die alone at sea
And with a strap 'tween his teeth, he towed the Irishman through the sea.
He led his men through waters dark, rocky reefs and hungry sharks
Braved the enemies bayonets, a thirty-eight hung 'round his neck
Four more days and four more nights, a rescue boat pulled into sight
The PT 109 was gone, but Kennedy and his men lived on.
Now who could guess, or who could possibly know
That this same man named Kennedy
Would be the leader of the nation, be the one to take command
The PT 109 was gone, but Kennedy lived to fight again.
Smoke and fire upon the sea
Everywhere they looked was the enemy
The heathen gods of old Japan
Yeah, they thought they had the best of a mighty good man.
But Kennedy and his crew lived on
Which proves it's hard to get the best of a man named John;
Big John, Big John, Big John.
Recorded by Jimmy Dean
Copyright M. Wilkin and F. Burch
GG
OCT98
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!