Oh the sailor makes it staler
When he tells about a tailor
oh it's getting ever staler
that stalest tale ever told
that the sailor came to tell.
Well, he puts it in a mailer,
that stale tale of a tailor
that is told by that old sailor.
Oh we're ringing out the knell.
As the light is growing paler
and he's sending off the mailer
with that old tale of a tailor
oh that very stale tale
that the sailor did so tell.
It's a failer, that old mailer
with the tale of a tailor -
right back to that old sailor
and he's letting out out a yell!
"Can't I never tell my tale? Oh I know it's just a little stale..."
Well I never saw a staler,
not a staler tale, nor a tailor,
nor indeed that bad old mailer -
sent it right back to that sailor
by the turning of the bell.
With a note that read, oh sailor
do you never tell that tailor
that you used his tale (and mailer)
for he would not let you dwell
any longer in this vale here
and no more we'd hear your tale, dear...
and that would be just swell.