Robert was a sailor

For the best years of his life

His captain was his mother

And the ocean was his wife

Only fresh out of the cradle

Life's one and only spring

He was sworn to do his duty

And got blood on his highschool ring



Chorus:

And it's hello California

Hello Dad and Mom

Ship ahoy

Your baby boy

Is home from Vietnam

Don't you ask me any questions

'Bout the medals on my chest

Take the star out of the window

And let my conscience take a rest



Now he sailed across the ocean

To the old far eastern war

And it was foreign to his body

It was foreign to his shore

So he traded in the present

For the better times he'd seen

And made an oriental waitress

His own home comin' queen



(Repeat chorus)