Strike the Bell, Second Mate

Up on the poop deck and walking about,
There is the second mate so steady and so stout;
What he is a-thinkin' of, he doesn't know himself
And we wish that he would hurry up and strike, strike the bell!

Chorus:
Strike the bell, second mate, let us go below;
Look well to windward you can see it's gonna blow;
Look at the glass, you can see that it has fell,
And we wish that you would hurry up and strike, strike the bell.

Down on the main deck and workin' at the pumps,
There is the larboard watch longing for their bunks;
Lookin' out to windward, you can see a great swell,
And we wish that you would hurry up and strike, strike the bell.

Chorus

Forward on the fo'c'sl head and keepin' sharp lookout,
Yonder John is standin', ready fer to shout,
"Lights' a-burnin' bright sir and everything is well,"
And he's wishin' that the second mate would strike, strike the bell.

Chorus

Aft at the wheelhouse old Anderson stands,
Graspin' at the helm with his frostbitten hands,
Lookin' at the compass, the course is clear as hell
And he's wishin' that the second mate would strike, strike the bell.

Chorus

Aft in his cabin our gallant captain stands,
Lookin' out to windward with a spyglass in his hand,
What he is a-thinkin' of we all know very well,
He's thinkin' more of shortenin' sail than strikin' the bell.

Chorus


Part of the Dogwatch Nautical Band Site at http://www.well.com/user/cwj/dogwatch/.

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