Authorship of this poem is not clear. We have seen this poem, and others similar to it, various places on the net. It is believed to be a paraphrase of the song "Hot Rod Race" written by George Wilson around the year 1950. Hot Rod Race Navy Style is reported to have been written by Roger Woodward in 1955. The text below was copied verbatim from a sheet provided by one of our shipmates.
Navy Hot Rod Race
Now me and my buddy "Swabby Joe"Took off in a "can" from Sasebo
The chow was poor and the fuel was low
But that this "can" could really go.
Along about the middle of the night
We are steaming along as any "can" might
When a cruiser behind us blinked his lights
Blew his whistle and pulled to the right.
We had twin screws on this old "can"
Which makes you think we were in a jam
But you swabs that don't dig this jive --
That's six boilers and an overdrive.
Now us "tin can" men likely knew
We'd race all night until something blew
The stern was down from churn to screw
And through the waves we flew and flew
The Exec was pale and he was sick
But to "tin can" men, he was just a hick
So why should we worry, so what the heck
That cruiser and us stayed neck and neck.
Over the ocean we did glide
Flying with throttle open wide
Our skipper screamed and crew they cried
But that cruiser and us stayed side by side.
We looked over the fantail for something was coming
And thought it was a jet to hear it humming
It was moving along at a heck of a pace
And we knew right then it was the end of the race.
As it streaked past, we looked away
And that cruiser crew had nothing to say
For there going by was a reserve "j.g."
Pushing a hopped up L.S.T.
