Twas the night before Christmas, somewhere in
the Med,
When “Taps, lights out” was heard, as passageways glowed red.
The night watch was busy standing their posts,
Diligently watching for any threat posed.
The Sailors were in berthings, exhausted from the day,
Dreaming of their families celebrating Christmas far away.
The bridge kept the helm, and I looked out aft,
As the stars above sparkled while the dark water churned past,
When out in the distance, I swore I heard bells,
What exactly it was, my eyes could not tell.
I called on the radio to report the strange sound,
But their radar showed nothing, no contacts to be found,
The full moon shone brightly, lighting up the sky,
As what I heard suddenly appeared to my eyes:
A sleigh pulled by reindeer, with Santa at the reins,
Which made me think the dark was playing tricks with my brain.
But the moonlight o’er the darkness, left absolutely no doubt,
That it really was Santa as he circled about.
Around the ship quickly, past the bridge he flew,
And I wondered if the bridge lookout saw him, too.
Yet no word was passed, from the radio, no sound,
As St. Nick and his reindeer came flying down.
Though flight quarters weren’t set, no flight crew in sight,
St. Nicholas and nine reindeer on the flight deck did light.
I stood there and stared, pinched my arm just to see,
If I had fallen asleep, and this all was a dream.
But as I pondered this unbelievable sight,
St. Nick stroked his beard, and put down his pipe.
He looked at me intently, and then gave a frown,
As he stood up and from his sleigh he climbed down.
“Young man,” he said to me, “I wonder if you might,
Explain to me why you’re on this ship Christmas Eve night?”
When “Taps, lights out” was heard, as passageways glowed red.
The night watch was busy standing their posts,
Diligently watching for any threat posed.
The Sailors were in berthings, exhausted from the day,
Dreaming of their families celebrating Christmas far away.
The bridge kept the helm, and I looked out aft,
As the stars above sparkled while the dark water churned past,
When out in the distance, I swore I heard bells,
What exactly it was, my eyes could not tell.
I called on the radio to report the strange sound,
But their radar showed nothing, no contacts to be found,
The full moon shone brightly, lighting up the sky,
As what I heard suddenly appeared to my eyes:
A sleigh pulled by reindeer, with Santa at the reins,
Which made me think the dark was playing tricks with my brain.
But the moonlight o’er the darkness, left absolutely no doubt,
That it really was Santa as he circled about.
Around the ship quickly, past the bridge he flew,
And I wondered if the bridge lookout saw him, too.
Yet no word was passed, from the radio, no sound,
As St. Nick and his reindeer came flying down.
Though flight quarters weren’t set, no flight crew in sight,
St. Nicholas and nine reindeer on the flight deck did light.
I stood there and stared, pinched my arm just to see,
If I had fallen asleep, and this all was a dream.
But as I pondered this unbelievable sight,
St. Nick stroked his beard, and put down his pipe.
He looked at me intently, and then gave a frown,
As he stood up and from his sleigh he climbed down.
“Young man,” he said to me, “I wonder if you might,
Explain to me why you’re on this ship Christmas Eve night?”
“Sir,” I replied, “I am a Sailor on post,
And our ship is deployed far away from our coast.”
And our ship is deployed far away from our coast.”
His frown deepened further, as he looked at me and said,
“But this is Christmas Eve, you should be with family
instead!”
The thought of my family brought a lump to my throat,
And I swallowed hard against tears as I zipped up my coat,
The thought of my family brought a lump to my throat,
And I swallowed hard against tears as I zipped up my coat,
“Santa, I would much rather be home by my tree,
Watching my family unwrap presents, I miss them, you see,
Watching my family unwrap presents, I miss them, you see,
But the nation, it counts upon Sailors like us,
To keep them all safe, and keep them safe we must.
Because there are those who would like to cause harm,
We’re here to stop them, so they’ve no need for alarm.
My shipmates and I, we all took an oath,
To support and defend, and with our best we’ll do both.”
Because there are those who would like to cause harm,
We’re here to stop them, so they’ve no need for alarm.
My shipmates and I, we all took an oath,
To support and defend, and with our best we’ll do both.”
His eyes welled with tears, as he wiped them away,
And he said, “Thank you, son. I don’t know what else to say.
And he said, “Thank you, son. I don’t know what else to say.
I really would like to tell the rest this as well,
And maybe leave gifts, and some treats, so do tell,
It is obvious you have no chimney, there’s none I can see,
And maybe leave gifts, and some treats, so do tell,
It is obvious you have no chimney, there’s none I can see,
Save those big smoke stacks, would those work for me?”
“Santa,” I replied, with a smile on my face, “Those go to
turbines, and the engineers’ space,
And even if you could, there’s no fireplace inside,
So I think you’d be better off staying outside,”
So I think you’d be better off staying outside,”
He smiled and looked up, and then looked back at me,
And said, “Is there any kind of present they’d gladly
receive?”
I closed my eyes and pictured Christmas back home,
As my family would be waiting for my call on the phone,
As my family would be waiting for my call on the phone,
“Santa, I believe I can speak for the crew,
And I know exactly what they all would ask of you,
Go back and tell everyone that you see,
That our watch is our Christmas gift to them from the sea.”
That our watch is our Christmas gift to them from the sea.”
He came to attention, and gave me a salute,
And said that he would do that, with love from the troops.
So he climbed back up, and sat in his sleigh,
And said those words heard that first Christmas Day.
“Peace on earth among all, I pray you will see,
And said that he would do that, with love from the troops.
So he climbed back up, and sat in his sleigh,
And said those words heard that first Christmas Day.
“Peace on earth among all, I pray you will see,
And you no longer will have to spend Christmas at sea.
But until that day comes, please know that you,
But until that day comes, please know that you,
Share mine and a nation’s utmost gratitude.”
He gave the reins a snap, and they took off like a light,
Just like a helo, lifting off in flight.
He gave the reins a snap, and they took off like a light,
Just like a helo, lifting off in flight.
And as I heard the 1MC call the lookout team away,
I heard him shout, “Merry Christmas to you all, and Anchors
Aweigh!”
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