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Sailor’s Not A Sailor (Til A Sailor’s Been Tattooed) Lyrics by Ethel Merman

There’s No Business Like Show Business (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

1954

[MOLLY]
I'm an old salt
[KATY]
I'm a young salt
[KATY AND MOLLY]
In the Navy we've been working very hard
[MOLLY]
I was part of the Flotilla with Dewey in Manila
[KATY]
I'm a new recruit at the Brooklyn Navy yard
[KATY AND MOLLY]
Tonight we're on a spree and feeling flow'ry
We've got a date with gals and drink and food
[KATY]
Across the Brooklyn Bridge and to the Bow'ry
[MOLLY]
And I'm gonna get the kid tattooed
[KATY]
Tattooed?
[MOLLY]
Tattooed!
[KATY AND MOLLY]
A sailor's not a sailor 'til a sailor's been tattooed
[MOLLY]
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
Hеre's a Battle Cruiser and whеn I sit down
On that, too
There's a tattoo
Of my home town
[KATY]
To the Bow'ry
[MOLLY]
To the Bow'ry
[KATY]
'Cross the Brooklyn Bridge and I'm just in the mood
[MOLLY]
He'll be filled with diff'rent mixtures
And covered up with pictures
[KATY]
I can't wait to be, 'twill be great to be tattooed
[MOLLY]
Tattooed?
[KATY]
Tattooed!
[KATY AND MOLLY]
A sailor's not a sailor 'til a sailor's been tattooed
Credits
Ethel Merman

Ethel Merman

About “Sailor’s Not A Sailor (Til A Sailor’s Been Tattooed)” by Ethel Merman

Read the complete lyrics to "Sailor’s Not A Sailor (Til A Sailor’s Been Tattooed)" by Ethel Merman from the album "There’s No Business Like Show Business (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)" in 1954. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Pop.

"Sailor’s Not A Sailor (Til A Sailor’s Been Tattooed)" is performed by Ethel Merman. from the album "There’s No Business Like Show Business (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)" in 1954 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Sailor’s Not A Sailor (Til A Sailor’s Been Tattooed)", explore more songs by Ethel Merman using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Sailor’s Not A Sailor (Til A Sailor’s Been Tattooed)" is credited to Ethel Merman. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Sailor’s Not A Sailor (Til A Sailor’s Been Tattooed)" appears on "There’s No Business Like Show Business (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)" in 1954.

Visit the Ethel Merman artist page at /artist/ethel-merman for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.