Rig Worker's Alphabet

A for Atlantic, that saltwater well,
B for the ballast and the boys in the bell,
C for the chopper that brought us out here,
And D is the danger that lurks everywhere.

So hearty are we who work out on the rig,
Where the seas they do roll and the waves are so big;
Blow high or blow low, the wind it do roar,
There's no job on earth like one working offshore.

E for the engine room, F for the flange,
G for the Grand Banks just off Newfoundland,
Also for the galley where the grub is so good,
And H is for home where we'd stay if we could.

So hearty are we who work out on the rig,
Where the seas they do roll and the waves are so big;
Blow high or blow low, the wind it do roar,
There's no job on earth like one working offshore.

I for the icebergs come drifting down through,
J is the job that we're out here to do,
K for the knowledge that built this damn thing,
And L is for lifting what the supply boats bring.

So hearty are we who work out on the rig,
Where the seas they do roll and the waves are so big;
Blow high or blow low, the wind it do roar,
There's no job on earth like one working offshore.

M for the monkey board, N for the noise,
O is for oil under ocean it lies,
P for the pontoon that keeps us afloat,
And Q is for quickly you stay on your toes.

So hearty are we who work out on the rig,
Where the seas they do roll and the waves are so big;
Blow high or blow low, the wind it do roar,
There's no job on earth like one working offshore.

R for the roughneck who knows all the tricks,
S for the SEDCO, the seven-oh-six,
T the toolpusher, top man on the job,
Also for the treble three fourty foot logs.

So hearty are we who work out on the rig,
Where the seas they do roll and the waves are so big;
Blow high or blow low, the wind it do roar,
There's no job on earth like one working offshore.

U is for under we don't want to go,
V for the valve that lets all things flow,
W for weather and the waves it do bring,
And X for excuse me if you think I can't sing.

So hearty are we who work out on the rig,
Where the seas they do roll and the waves are so big;
Blow high or blow low, the wind it do roar,
There's no job on earth like one working offshore.

Y for a yell if a man's overboard,
A yippee and yahoo when we gets onshore,
Z for the zipper to do up your dry suit,
You put it on first, boys, then haul on your boots.

So hearty are we who work out on the rig,
Where the seas they do roll and the waves are so big;
Blow high or blow low, the wind it do roar,
There's no job on earth like one working offshore.

####.... Jim Payne. Arranged and recorded by Jim Payne and Fergus O'Byrne (Wave Over Wave, Old And New Songs Of Atlantic Canada, 1995). 1997 ECMA Roots/Traditional Artist Nominee ....####

See more Jim Payne songs.

The SEDCO 706 is a Sedco 700 design semi-submersible drilling unit capable of operating in harsh environments and water depths up to 1,000 feet using a 18¾in 10,000 psi BOP and a 21in OD marine drilling riser.
(From Transocean Inc. - Fleet Specifications)