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