Buddies First of All [Les copains d'abord]

Our boat was not a royal barge

For Cleopatra or King George

It must be said in each port of call

In each port of call

Our raft sailed gently in the breeze

Round the big duck ponds, past the trees

A ship named "Buddies first of all"

"Buddies first of all"

Its motto: "Wave-tossed but unsunk"

Was true, and not a load of bunk

Whatever evil tongues let fall

Evil tongues let fall

Among the captain and the crew

There were no bad guys, just friends who

Agreed that shipmates must be called

"Buddies first of all"

We were not kids with silver spoons

Not heavenly twins who want the moon

Just normal children having a ball

Children having a ball

We were not friends in poetry books

Sometimes we slung a few right hooks

None of our punches hurt at all

"Buddies first of all"

We were no angels, just kids who

Had never read our Bible through

But got the message one and all

Message one and all

John, Peter, Paul and company

We only knew one litany:

It was our creed, our hymn, our call

"Buddies first of all"

If one friend hit a stormy patch

The good companions took the watch

And steered a course to make landfall

Course to make landfall

If any one was in distress

Or if he sent an S.O.S.

No one ignored the signal call

"Buddies first of all"

When some of us were meeting up

We never stood each other up

If one was overboard when called

He had died - that's all

And in the Sea of Time that flows

We never let the waters close

Upon his memory - most of all

He is missed by all

Although I've sailed in lots of boats

There's only one that stayed afloat

And held its course amid the squalls

Course amid the squalls

It sailed so gently in the breeze

Round the big duck ponds, past the trees

A ship named "Buddies first of all"

"Buddies first of all"

Although I've sailed in lots of boats

There's only one that stayed afloat

And held its course amid the squalls

Course amid the squalls

It sailed so gently in the breeze

Round the big duck ponds, past the trees

A ship named "Buddies first of all"

"Buddies first of all"

• Artist:Daniel Guilloton