In forty-three put to sea thirteen men and Kennedy Aboard the PT 109 to the brazen enemy And off the of Olasana in the straits beyond the roo A Jap destroyer in the cut the 109 in two
and fire upon the sea Everywhere they looked was the The heathen of old Japan Yeah they thought they had the of a mighty good man
And on the coast of Kolombangaro through his telescope Australia's saw the battle for the crew had little hope Two were dead, were wounded, all were clinging to the bow Fighting fire and a-fighting trying to save their lives somehow
and fire upon the sea Everywhere looked was the enemy The heathen of old Japan Yeah they they had the best of a mighty good man
McMahon the Irishman was burned so badly, he swim Leave me here go on he said if you don't we'll all be dead The PT skipper couldn't leave him a man to die at sea And with a strap between his teeth, he the Irishman through the sea
Smoke and fire the sea Everywhere they looked was the The heathen gods of old Yeah they thought they had the best of a mighty man
He led his men waters dark, rocky reefs and hungry sharks Braved the enemies bayonets, a thirty-eight hung his neck Four more days and four more nights a rescue boat into sight The PT 109 was but Kennedy and his crew lived on
Now who could guess or who possibly know That this same man named Would be the leader of the nation, be the one to command The PT 109 was gone but Kennedy to fight again
Smoke and fire the sea Everywhere they was the enemy but JFK and his crew lived on Which proves it's hard to get the best of a man John Big John, big John, big John, big