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