Ship Ahoy! (All the Nice Girls Love a Sailor)
# Ship Ahoy! (All the Nice Girls Love a Sailor)

"Ship Ahoy! (All the Nice Girls Love a Sailor)" is an English music hall song from 1908, written by Bennett Scott and A. J. Mills of the Star music publishing company in London. Some sources credit Scott alone; others additionally credit their colleague Fred Godfrey.

The song was first performed by male impersonator Hetty King. She later said that she first sang it at the Liverpool Empire in 1908, but it did not become successful until 1909, when it became popular and, towards the end of the year, was described as the greatest pantomime hit for four years. The song stayed in King's repertoire for the rest of her life, and has remained popular. It was first recorded in 1910, by Ella Retford.

The words of the chorus are:

    All the nice girls love a sailor
    All the nice girls love a tar
    For there's something about a sailor
    Well, you know what sailors are
    Bright and breezy, free and easy
    He's the ladies' pride and joy
    Falls in love with Kate and Jane
    Then he's off to sea again
    Ship ahoy! Ship ahoy!
