# What are the 'crew' saying in The Beatles Yellow Submarine? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 18, 2011, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-crew-saying-in-the-beatles-yellow-submarine/575124 "2011-03-18T06:45:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-crew-saying-in-the-beatles-yellow-submarine/575124/1 "2011-03-18T06:45:01Z")
Been listening to The Beatles No 1 disc recently and was wondering if there’s a definitive source as to what the ‘crewman’ are saying during the middle? All I’ve ever discerned is: [ul] [li]_something something_ Full steam ahead[/li][li]Aye aye sir[/li][li]Captain Captain[/li][/ul] And are all the lines spoken by band members? If so which ones? The fake crewman who repeats all of Ringo’s lyrics and does that goofy laugh at the end definitely sounds like Lennon. ---
**Author:** ![Rrose\_Selavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rrose\_Selavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rrose_Selavy)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-crew-saying-in-the-beatles-yellow-submarine/575124/2 "2011-03-18T11:25:27Z")
> [@](#): > > (Full speed ahead, Mr. Barkley, full speed ahead! > Full speed over here, sir! > All together! All together! > Aye, aye, sir, fire! > Captain! Captain!) As usual Google is your friend… ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-crew-saying-in-the-beatles-yellow-submarine/575124/3 "2011-03-18T16:51:12Z")
> [@Rrose\_Selavy](#): > > As usual Google is your friend… I believe that would be “Full speed ahead it is, sir”. And yes, it’s Lennon parroting the lines of the last verse. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-crew-saying-in-the-beatles-yellow-submarine/575124/4 "2011-03-18T17:44:22Z")
I always thought someone in the background was saying, “Up periscope.” However, I could be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-crew-saying-in-the-beatles-yellow-submarine/575124/5 "2011-03-18T18:15:08Z")
“Station the maneuvering watch.” ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-crew-saying-in-the-beatles-yellow-submarine/575124/6 "2011-03-18T18:16:06Z")
> [@Rrose\_Selavy](#): > > As usual Google is your friend… Not regarding lyrics, it isn’t. Too many sites have what someone thinks they hear and what you quote is one of those. When it comes to lyrics, the sheet music is your friend and the best to my recollection it goes: > [@](#): > > Full speed ahead, Mr. Boatswain, full speed ahead! > Full speed ahead, aye, Sergeant. > Up periscope! Up periscope! > Aye aye, sir! Aye aye! > Captain! Captain! ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-crew-saying-in-the-beatles-yellow-submarine/575124/7 "2011-03-19T00:18:16Z")
Seconding that google is no friend when it comes to lyrics. The Beatles Complete Scores by Hal Leonard Publishing has: Full speed ahead Mr. Boatswain. Full speed ahead. Full speed ahead it is, Sgt. Cut the cable. Drop the cable. Aye, Sir Aye. Captain, Captain. This source is often right (and sometimes wrong.) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-crew-saying-in-the-beatles-yellow-submarine/575124/8 "2011-03-19T00:31:12Z")
There are sergeants on submarines? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_A.Robrin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sam_a.robrin/32/14497_2.png) [@Sam\_A.Robrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_A.Robrin)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-crew-saying-in-the-beatles-yellow-submarine/575124/9 "2011-03-19T03:11:49Z")
Ringo also sings “In our yellow CLUBmarine” in the final line of the last verse, but that never makes it onto the sheet music! ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-crew-saying-in-the-beatles-yellow-submarine/575124/10 "2011-03-19T04:09:54Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > There are sergeants on submarines? Only the yellow ones.