C G
KEN: Don’t jump the boat.. Come back inside D C G Your luck you’d float….And wash up with the tide. C G Don’t give up the ship…We’re on your side. D Fair or stormy weather, we’re all in this together. G So sit back….enjoy the ride. G C G You took this job as speech coach ‘cause nobody else would take it. A D You don’t know much about the job so you decide to fake it. C G Em Then they slashed your budget and you give your boss a call…. A D “We’d love to help you out, but we need new basketballs.”
Don’t jump the boat…Don’t chuck it in… Too deep to wade…Too far to swim.. Don’t give up the ship…Just sit back down.. Don’t be actin’ silly ‘cause the river’s mighty chilly… And it’s a long way back to town.
Your very best duet’s all set and ready to perform. They’ve learned their lines, they speak right up. You’re glad that they were born. Three days before contest and they’ve just now reached their peak. Then the principal tells you they’re ineligible this week.
Don’t jump the boat….Don’t buy the farm. Just keep the peace and grit your teeth Well it sure won’t do no harm. Don’t give up the ship…Don’t end it all. Life could get still meaner, could be sponsoring cheerleaders With their mommies, aunts and all.
You never have the time enough to meet with all your kids The contest is approaching and your team is on the skids You wonder how you’ll find the hours to get them all in gear. (Don’t worry..) If the Governor has his way you’ll have to teach for fifty years.
Don’t jump the boat… Just keep on jokin’! They’ll work real hard the night before And you would like to choke ‘em. Don’t give up the ship…We need you here. Give thanks to God you’ve got a job And if prayer won’t work, there’s beer.
(INSTRUMENTAL)
So now we’ve got this conference, and some of you are new. Just look around and you will find we look a lot like you. Oh, some of us have aged a bit but you might be amazed… I’m actually 23 years old, but coaching makes you age.
You’ve had a lot…… of coffee and that’s fine. You left your house at half past five… Your bladder’s full and you know that that’s a sign. It’s hurtin’ time…….…You stand in line..
I’ve had to pee since Peoria…since Peoria…Peoria I’ve had to pee since Peoria…
Don’t jump the boat.. Come back inside Your luck you’d float….And wash up with the tide. Don’t give up the ship…We’re on your side. It’s not what you’re thinkin’ It’s not the room that’s sinkin’ It’s my attempt at singin’… So sit back….enjoy the ride.
(testimonies)
SHAYLA GRANTHAM: She was a talented actress, but she’d done no theatre. She could sing, she could dance, and she could act, but she’d never done anything with it…until she joined our speech team. I worked with her for two years and kept encouraging her to audition for more theatre…I spoke to her parents. This past summer she finally took a chance and auitioned….She got a role in Les Miserables. GINNY MOORE: She was in special ed, had no support from home, lived in a house with 11 people, and shared an unheated garage with her grandmother, mom and two brothers. They had no money to buy gas and drive her to practice, so we made a game of it. We rehearsed before school, lunch hour, any time we could. I thought she should do a duet so she’d have some help, but she wouldn’t hear of it. She wanted to do The True Story of the Three Little Pigs as a solo. One week before contest she came to me in tears. Her family was going to move away before the contest. I begged and pleaded and the family let her stay to go to contest. She received a first place from the judge and it was changed to 2nd because of timing, but you’d have thought she’d won an academy award. She left our school on a high note. Through speech she’d proved to her family and herself that she could conquer! STEVE WILLIAMS: The four 12-year-old girls came into my room on the Monday before contest. They were in tears. The fifth member of their group could not attend the contest on Saturday. Her mother insisted on taking her to St. Louis to shop. We had two options…one was to drop out of the contest and the other was illegal. A young lady in my class saw all the crying and came up to ask what was going on. She was a little awkward and very shy, but she said, “I can do it.” I looked at the other girls and said, “She can do it.” The other four were so relieved that they forgot they weren’t friends with the shy girl. They hammered out a four-day rehearsal schedule and the next day the new girl came with the whole script memorized. She did a wonderful job and the group got special recognition. …but more than that, they became friends. Out of all the kids I’ve coached, that shy little girl is the one I’m most proud of.
STACEY WORRELL: This summer a college sophomore approached me in Jimmy John’s with tears in his eyes. He said, “Mrs. Worrell you introduced me to drama and I just want to thank you. I’m majoring in drama and some day I hope to inspire kiddos like you inspired me. And oh….here are tickets to my next play.” And I thought Jimmy John’s was just freaky fast and not tear-filled.
Don’t jump the boat.. Come back inside Your luck you’d float….And wash up with the tide. Don’t give up the ship…We’re on your side. We’ve got a job that’s thrillin’ ‘cause it’s all about our children You make the difference! Enjoy the ride!