Laws of the Navy

Now these are the laws of the navy
Unwritten and varied though they be
And he who is wise will observe them
When down in his ship to the sea

As naught can outrun a destroyer
Even so with he law and it's grip
From the strength of the ship is the service
And the strength of the service the ship

Take heed what thee sayest of they seniors
Be thy words whispered softly and low
Lest the birds on the air pass it onwards
And thy seniors thy burden shall know

When thy labourest from morn until even
And yet meetest with reproof for thy toil
Is it wise that thy gun should stay silent
Thy compressor must check thy recoil

And count no upon a certain promotion
To the office to which you may aspire
Though thy sight-line may zero on the target
There cometh the chance of misfire

And take heed in thy manor of speaking
That the language thou useth by sound
In the list of the words of thy choosing
Impossible must not be found

Now these are the laws of the navy
And many and mighty are they
But they boil down to one small commandment
That commandment is thou shalt obey