Story Behind The Song

A Navy Chief's lifetime through memories

Song Description

memories boyhood through manhood to passing

Lyrics

THE OLD CHIEF
W:Larry M Clark, BMI P:Ellemsee Music, BMIlarrymyrtus@yahoo.com

He was sittin' in a rockin' chair in the Old Sailor's Home
Just him and his memories, as he sat there all alone
His mind drifted back to childhood and mem'ries of his folks
How he would always laugh at his Dad's silly jokes
The delicious smells that always came from his Mom's kitchen
But even then, this young boy's feet were already itchin'
And on the pond behind the barn, he'd built a makeshift boat
Looking not much more than a raft, but at least, it did float
Always pretending that his raft was a great big battle cruiser
And no matter who the enemy, they always were the loser
In his mind he already knew that when the time was ready
That He was gonna join and sail the seas in the U.S. Navy

Pearl Harbor happened, he became a sailor, and went to the Pacific
The noise of battle, the loss of friends, was really just horrific
And then came Okinawa and those damned Kamikazes
He'd manned a Anti Aircraft gun and knew the duty was his
Not rememb'ring how many rounds he'd fired or how many hits
He did remember how his ship survived the terrible blitz
Korea came, and he'd made Chief, and was stationed pushin' boots
Regalin' them with war stories as he trained the new recruits
Peacetime came and he'd made cruises, the Med and then Westpac
Sailing the seven seas, then around the world and back
Friends would comment on his single status and he would always say
I'm married to the Navy and I'm gonna stay that way

Then came war in VietNam, and he was already in his forties
On a carrier in the China Sea, he'd watched them make their sorties
Mid seventies, he'd lost his folks and mourned them with his tears
And realized that he was nearin' the Navy's maximum years
So he'd retired and took a job workin' at a Naval station
Telling his World War 2 stories, how the Navy had saved the nation
Retirement time came again, and he'd had no urge to roam
Gave away his worldly goods, and moved to the Old Sailor's Home
Finding old friends, making new ones, and they could share their stories
Of war and peace, girls and places, they relived their Naval glories
He closed his eyes, saw his Mom and Dad, and he began to weep
He saw the Angels comin' for him, as he passed in Heavenly sleep