Captain Robert took his men
And flew to Prague and back again
Some fell off, some dropped dead
And some put bullets through their head
A skeleton crew is what came back
And once in port he filled his sack
With bribes and cash and fame and coin
Things to make a new crew join
Captain Robert took his crew
To Shangri-la and Timbuktu
Some went crazy, some got mad
Some he kicked off ship in Chad
A skeleton crew is what came back
Who lived through mutiny, plague and flak
Strong and calloused, brave and tired
All those who could stay inspired
Captain Robert took his ship
To Beijing and to Mozambique
Stir crazy or in irons he clapped them
One of them tried to kiss the captain
Captain Robert looked at his crew
And saw that everyone was new
The crew got broke through misadventure
No-one could take another gut-wrencher
A skeleton crew is what came back
Who lived through mutiny, plague and flak
Strong and calloused, brave and tired
All those who could stay inspired
A skeleton crew is what came back
And once in port he filled his sack
With bribes and cash and fame and coin
Things to make a new crew join
Captain Robert took his crew
To Shangri-la and Timbuktu
Some went crazy, some got mad
Some he kicked off ship in Chad