Life’s Been Good (30 June 2001)

Our submarine is the Six Fifty Nine...

We don't go fast but we have a good time.

We had no girls... we had no beer...

We plan to make up for most of that here.

Along about midnight Chief XXX took the dive

He got on depth at quarter to five.

At periscope depth there was no doubt

Low flying planes had better watch out.

Our electrical officer's life's goal's been met...

He spent his money... bought a corvette.

He likes to drive it and he thinks it's neat...

Four on the floor and a fifth on the seat.

One of our captains was named Malcolm Wright

He was a steamer... by day and by night

He would come back to the ship feeling bold...

And ask the topside... "Are we Blue or Gold?"

We shot our garbage thorough the TDU

Into the ocean far from our view

We thought our Nav would be a big hit

Come to find out though... he wouldn't fit.

We shot torpedoes... we scrammed the plant

Some of the planes men made the decks slant

We would have field days and clean all around

Most of the MTs could never be found.

We are with ship mates in Tulsa tonight

Look all around you.. it is quite a sight.

We see so many who really look strange...

Everybody's so different, we haven't changed.

We sure enjoyed the good Willy R

We didn't go fast but we went pretty far

We came to Tulsa to remember things past

Our second reunion.. it won't be our last.

The ship is now gone, all taken apart

She had a soul and she had a big heart

Now that it's gone we miss her a bunch

Look at your razor, I painted it once.

Our little song nearly is through

We wish we were back there... turning the screw

We did much hard work, we kept her afloat

You are the ones who made it a good boat.

Those were the great days of six fifty nine

Keep those old memories... they are mighty fine

We thank you all from near and from far

For paying tribute to the Willy R! J. K. Eldridge