CFCGC
[Verse 1]
CF
Up on the poop deck and walkin’ all about
CG
There’s the second mate so steady and so stout
CF
What he is a-thinkin’ of, he doesn’t know himself
CGC
We wish that he would hurry up and strike, Strike the Bell!
[Chorus]
GC
Strike the bell second mate, and let us go below
FCG
Look ye well to windward, you can see it’s going to blow
CF
Look at the glass, you can see that it has fell
CGC
We wish that you would hurry up and strike, Strike the Bell!
[Verse 2]
CF
Down on the main deck, workin' at the pumps
CG
There’s the bloody crew, just longin’ for their bunks
CF
They look out to windward and they see a great big swell
CGC
They’re wishin’ that the second mate would strike, Strike the Bell!
[Chorus]
GC
Strike the bell second mate, and let us go below
FCG
Look ye well to windward, you can see it’s going to blow
CF
Look at the glass, you can see that it has fell
CGC
We wish that you would hurry up and strike, Strike the Bell!
[Verse 3]
CF
Up on the fo’c’sle head and keepin’ sharp lookout
CG
Black Dog Nate stands, a-longin’ for to shout:
CF
'The lights are burnin’ brightly, sir, and everything is swell
CGC
We wish that you would hurry up and strike, Strike the Bell!'
[Chorus]
GC
Strike the bell second mate, and let us go below
FCG
Look ye well to windward, you can see it’s going to blow
CF
Look at the glass, you can see that it has fell
CGC
We wish that you would hurry up and strike, Strike the Bell!
[Verse 4]
CF
Aft at the wheelhouse, The Last Mate stands
CG
Clutchin’ at the wheel with his frostbitten hands
CF
He’s lookin’ at the compass, and his course is clear as hell
CGC
He’s wishin’ that the second mate would strike, Strike the Bell!
[Chorus]
GC
Strike the bell second mate, and let us go below
FCG
Look ye well to windward, you can see it’s going to blow
CF
Look at the glass, you can see that it has fell
CGC
We wish that you would hurry up and strike, Strike the Bell!
[Verse 5]
CF
Up on the quarter deck, our gallant captain stands
CG
Lookin’ out to seaward with a spyglass in her hands
CF
What she is a-thinkin’ of, we know very well,
CGC
She’s thinkin’ more of shortenin’ sail than Strikin’ the Bell!
[Chorus]
GC
Strike the bell second mate, and let us go below
FCG
Look ye well to windward, you can see it’s going to blow
CF
Look at the glass, you can see that it has fell
CGC
We wish that you would hurry up and Strike the Bloody Bell!