The Radioman's Lament
If you ever see upon the street
a man who walks with a speed-key beat
with a message board upon his waist
he's a radioman and he's probably in haste.
With messages secret and messages unclas
He'll get his man you can bet your ass
Co Xo Ops or Comm
He'll clear that board before to long.
"Radio , Bridge I have some static
I want it out so you'd better get at it."
"Bridge , Radio try it now sir
I got it out but I don't know how sir."
The teletypes out, it just won't sync.
A transmitter burned up and what a stink
The "ole man" wants a reference found
and chief is running round and round.
The skeds were checked and a message missed
hang on to your hand-keys, the "ole man's" pissed.
We knew that someone was going to be had
but stand by guys, we're all on the pad.
You fall asleep while standing the Mid
you thought you were safe and pretty well hid
But TCl (Terry Lockhart, LTJG, Comm) knows whats going on
pretty soon now he'll be taking the CON.
There's pubs to check and corrections to make
and I still have sensitivity checks to take
then suddenly the "beep" of a KWR
I think this time its gone to far.
"RADIO , BRIDGE you've had your fun
now take WNOR out of RPU one."
and so on it goes, day and night
RM's seem to do nothing right.
Well sooner or later everything right
so you hit you pad for the rest of the night.
your cuttin' z's and makin' hay
when out of nowhere you hear "N H E K"
Now sailor I'll tell you this
an RM's life is not all bliss
when the man comes up and says "ship over son"
say "negats hoss, I'm all done."
So when you that RM upon the street
the one that walks with the speed-key beat
don't say he's dit-happy like all the rest
say "your alright sparks, you did your best."
written by Kelly C. Brown Rm2