Thompson's musical style, characterized as Honky Tonk Swing, is a mixture of big-band instrumentation, fiddle and steel guitar that supports his distinctive, gravelly baritone vocals on songs he often writes himself. His backing band, The Brazos Valley Boys, was voted the No.1 Country Western Band for 14 years in a row by Billboard Magazine.
He decided to pursue his musical talent after serving in the U.S. Navy in World War II as a radioman and studying electrical engineering at the university level. His first single was "Whoa Sailor" in 1946. The year 1952 brought his first #1 disc, "The Wild Side of Life", which contained the memorable line "I didn't know God made honky-tonk angels" (which inspired the Kitty Wells response, "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels"). Other hits followed in quick succession in the 1950s and 1960s. Although not as prominent in later decades, he has remained an active and respected performer in the field, finding new audiences as a result of the resurgence of a harder-edged sound in country music.
Hank Thompson was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1989 and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1997. He was born 3 September 1925 in Waco, Texas, and passed away at home in Keller, Texas, on 6 November 2007, just four days after cancelling his final tour.
Whoa Sailor
Hank Thompson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I stepped into a cabaret to get myself a beer
A pretty girl sat all alone and needed company
But when I got close, this girl a rose this is what she said to me
Now she said, "Whoa sailor, be careful what you do
In your eye there's a gleam
And to me it seems you're just like all the restWith a wolfish eye and a line that's sly than a sailor's at his best"
"Now look here, babe, you've got me wrong, I'm not that kinda guy
I just got back from across the seas where there are no gals arie
Now let me talk to you a while, I'm sure you'll see my way"
But when I went to spout she turned about this is what she had to say
Now she said, "Whoa sailor, I've heard that line before
You'll look into my eyes
And tell me lies and tales of the seven seas
But a sailor's full of that kinda bull so don't hand it to me
"Oh pretty girl, you've let me down, you've broken my poor heart
And oh, how it hurt when you had to spurt that last sad remark"
I said, "I think I'll have a drink and I broke out six month's pay"
With a wide open eyes she breathed a sigh this time she had to say
Now she said, "Whoa sailor, I think you've won my heart"
Well, she was right neat and she sure was sweet
But I knew she was that sort but she's not all to blame
'Cause it's a sailor's aim to have a girl in every port
Hank Thompson's song Whoa Sailor tells the story of a sailor who enters a cabaret to get a beer and meets a pretty girl who's looking for company. However, as he approaches her, she warns him to be careful and not to try his "sly" moves on her. The sailor gets offended and tries to convince her that he's not that kind of guy, but the girl doesn't believe him and ends up rejecting him. He tries to drown his sorrows in alcohol, but it's only when he spends six months pay and buys her a drink that she finally shows interest in him. The song speaks to the romantic adventures that sailors seek on land, but how it's not always successful.
The lyrics paint the picture of sailors as charming, but often unreliable when it comes to relationships. They move on from one port to another, collecting temporary lovers as they go. The song also touches on the idea of infidelity, with the sailor admitting that he knows the girl is "that sort," meaning promiscuous, but still pursuing her regardless. However, the lyrics also show that even in the world of sailors, there are moments of sincerity and genuine affection.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll tell you 'bout my night on shore if you will lend an ear
I want to tell you about what I did on shore last night, if you will listen to me.
I stepped into a cabaret to get myself a beer
I went into a place to have a drink.
A pretty girl sat all alone and needed company
There was a beautiful girl who was alone and wanted someone to talk to.
But when I got close, this girl a rose this is what she said to me
After I moved closer, the girl said something surprising to me.
Now she said, "Whoa sailor, be careful what you do
The girl warned me and said, "Be careful what you do, sailor.
In your eye there's a gleam
I can see a particular look in your eyes.
And to me it seems you're just like all the rest
To me, it looks like you're just like all the other men.
With a wolfish eye and a line that's sly than a sailor's at his best"
Your eyes look hungry like a wolf and your words seem to be too smooth for your own good."
"Now look here, babe, you've got me wrong, I'm not that kinda guy
"Wait, hold on, you misunderstood me. I'm not that kind of man.
I just got back from across the seas where there are no gals arie
I've been traveling across seas where there were no women.
Now let me talk to you a while, I'm sure you'll see my way"
Let me talk to you for a while, I'm sure you'll understand me."
But when I went to spout she turned about this is what she had to say
But before I could say much, she said something else.
Now she said, "Whoa sailor, I've heard that line before
The girl said, "Hold on, sailor. I've heard that same line before.
You'll look into my eyes
You will try to look into my eyes.
And tell me lies and tales of the seven seas
And you'll try to deceive me with tales of the seven seas.
But a sailor's full of that kinda bull so don't hand it to me
But I know that sailors are known for this kind of nonsense so don't try to fool me."
"Oh pretty girl, you've let me down, you've broken my poor heart
"Oh, beautiful girl. You've hurt me and broken my heart.
And oh, how it hurt when you had to spurt that last sad remark"
I felt so hurt when you had to say that last sad remark."
I said, "I think I'll have a drink and I broke out six month's pay
I said, "I think I'll have a drink," and I took out six month's worth of pay.
With a wide open eyes she breathed a sigh this time she had to say
She had a surprised expression and she said something again.
Now she said, "Whoa sailor, I think you've won my heart"
Now she said, "Wow, sailor. I think you have won my heart."
Well, she was right neat and she sure was sweet
She was very nice and sweet.
But I knew she was that sort but she's not all to blame
But I knew that she was that type of woman, but it's not entirely her fault.
'Cause it's a sailor's aim to have a girl in every port
It's usually a sailor's goal to have a romantic partner in every port.
Lyrics © ERNEST TUBB MUSIC, INC.
Written by: HANK THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@melin520
I'll tell you 'bout my night on shore
If you will lend an ear
I stepped into a cabaret to get myself a beer
A pretty girl sat all alone and needed company
But when I got close this girll a rose
This is what she said to me
Now she said whoa sailor be careful what you do
In your eye there's a gleam
And to me It seems you're just like all the rest
With a wolfish eye and a line that's sly
Then a salior's at his best
****************
Now look here babe you've got me wrong
I'm not that kinda guy
while I just got back from across the seas
Where there are no girls arie
Now let me talk to you a while
I'm sure you'll see my way
But when I went to spout
She turned about, this is what she had to say
And she said whoa sailor
I've heard that line before
You'll look into my eyes
And tell me lies and tales of the seven seas
But a sailor's full of that kinda bull
So don't hand it to me
**************
Oh pretty girl you've let me down
You've broken my poor heart
And oh how it hurt
When you had to spurt that last sad remark
I said I think I'll have a drink
And I broke out six month's pay
With a wide open eyes
She breathed a sigh, this time she had to say
Now she said whoa sailor
I think you've won my heart
Well she was right neat and she sure was sweet
But I knew she was that sort
She's not all to blame
'Cause it's a sailor's aim to have a girl in every port.....
@janettgrady2394
Hank was not only a great sounding singer, he came up with some of the most upbeat happiest lyrics ever written, worthy of a Nobel Prize for the Arts in my book. Hank was a great singer, a great composer, and, I believe, a great husband who had a long-long loving relationship with his wife. Hank was much more than Country...he was my kind of man.
@marolynthompson467
This is one of the bedtime songs sung to us by my dad. Love it!
@DRAGONSLAYER1220
Hank was a WWII Navy veteran, serving as a radioman and studied electrical engineering at Princeton University prior to his 1946 discharge.
Met him at Cannon AFB, NM in 1978 or '79 while he was on a USO tour, huge supporter of active duty/veterans.
@harvsmith5093
now there is real country music you hear that in Nashville any more.sad but true
@thaven143
I was in the 'Fleet' from 1981-1988 before they sent me to shore duty! The pay was better than expected( i guess).....The Liberty was GREAT, from P.I., Korea, Australia, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, and a few lesser ports.....Then....they sent me back to the US...Fun while it lasted.
@davedunn4879
Sub school great times in New London 1961
@rimfir2
oh pretty girl you've let me down, you've broken my heart
@neptunisregis11
By the time that I got to the fleet in 1970 I was an E-2, I think that the base pay was $75.00 @ month. I was on an amphibious ship and because we went in Vietnamese ports at least once a month we got extra pay for that. Liberty in Subic Bay or Taiwan was cheaper that in the States. I was not yet 21 and couldn't drink beer in the states. I had a great time on 'liberty in overseas ports.
@apesville2179
1971 Dot (CA) LP -2-2000 2 X LP "25th Anniversary" version
@melin520
I'll tell you 'bout my night on shore
If you will lend an ear
I stepped into a cabaret to get myself a beer
A pretty girl sat all alone and needed company
But when I got close this girll a rose
This is what she said to me
Now she said whoa sailor be careful what you do
In your eye there's a gleam
And to me It seems you're just like all the rest
With a wolfish eye and a line that's sly
Then a salior's at his best
****************
Now look here babe you've got me wrong
I'm not that kinda guy
while I just got back from across the seas
Where there are no girls arie
Now let me talk to you a while
I'm sure you'll see my way
But when I went to spout
She turned about, this is what she had to say
And she said whoa sailor
I've heard that line before
You'll look into my eyes
And tell me lies and tales of the seven seas
But a sailor's full of that kinda bull
So don't hand it to me
**************
Oh pretty girl you've let me down
You've broken my poor heart
And oh how it hurt
When you had to spurt that last sad remark
I said I think I'll have a drink
And I broke out six month's pay
With a wide open eyes
She breathed a sigh, this time she had to say
Now she said whoa sailor
I think you've won my heart
Well she was right neat and she sure was sweet
But I knew she was that sort
She's not all to blame
'Cause it's a sailor's aim to have a girl in every port.....