C F
In forty-three they put to sea
C G7 C
Thirteen men and Ken-ne-dy
F
Aboard the P. T. 109
C G7 C
To fight the brazen en-emy
F
And off the Isle of Olasana
C G7 C
In the straits beyond the ROO
F
A Jap destroyer in the night
C G7 C
Cut the One-O-Nine in two
G7
Smoke and fire upon the sea
C
Everywhere they looked was the enemy
G7 C
The heathen gods of old Japan Yea they thought
G7 C
They had the best of a mighty good man
F
And on the coast of Kolombangaro
C G7 C
Looking through his telescope
F
Australia's Evans saw the battle
C G7 C
For the crew had little hope
F
Two were dead some were wounded
C G7 C
All were clinging to the bow
F
Fighting fire and a-fighting water
C G7 C
Trying to save their lives somehow
F
McMahon the Irishman was burned
C G7 C
So badly he couldn't swim
F
Leave me here go on he said
C G7 C
Cause if you don't we'll all be dead
F
The P. T. skipper couldn't leave him
C G7 C
A man to die alone at sea
F
And with a strap 'tween his teeth
C G7 C
He towed the Irishman through the sea
F
He led his men through waters dark
C G7 C
Rocky reefs and hungry sharks
F
Braved the enemies bayonets
C G7 C
A thirty-eight hung around his neck
F
Four more days and four more nights
C G7 C
A rescue boat pulled into sight
F
The P. T. 109 was gone
C G7 C
But Kennedy and his crew lived on
NC:
Now who could guess or who could possibly know
That this same man named Kennedy would
F
Be the leader of the nation
C G7 C
Be the one to take command
F
The P. T. 109 was gone
C G7 C
But Kennedy lived to fight again
G7
Smoke and fire upon the sea
C
Everywhere they looked was the enemy
G7
But J. F. K. and his crew lived on
NC:
Which proves it's hard to get the best of a man named John