Strike the Bell Songtext
von Dan Zanes and Festival Five Folk

Aft on the poop deck,
and walkin′ all about,
There's the second mate,
so steady and so stout.
What he′s a-thinkin',
he knows not himself,
We're wishin′ he would hurry up and
strike, strike the bell.
Strike the bell, second mate,
let us go below,
Look well to windward
you can see it′s going to blow!
Look at the glass,
you can see that it has fell,
We wish that you would hurry up and
strike, strike the bell!
Down on the main deck,
workin' at the pumps,
There′s the starboard watch,
just a-longin' for their bunks.


Lookin′ off to windward,
they see a great swell,
They're wishin′ that the second mate
would strike, strike the bell.
Strike the bell, second mate,
let us go below,
Look well to windward
you can see it's going to blow!
Look at the glass,
you can see that it has fell,
We wish that you would hurry up and
strike, strike the bell!
Aft at the wheel,
poor Andersen stands,
Clutchin' at the spokes
with his cold, mittened hands.
Lookin′ at the compass head
the course is true and well,
He′s wishin' that the second mate
would strike, strike the bell.
Strike the bell, second mate,
let us go below,
Look well to windward
you can see it′s going to blow!
Look at the glass,
you can see that it has fell,
We wish that you would hurry up and
strike, strike the bell!
For'ard at the fo′cs'le head,
keepin′ sharp lookout,
There's Johnny standin',
a-ready for to shout,
The lights are burnin′ bright,
sir, everything is well,
We′re wishin' that the second mate
would strike, strike the bell.
Strike the bell, second mate,
let us go below,
Look well to windward
you can see it′s going to blow!
Look at the glass,
you can see that it has fell,
We wish that you would hurry up and
strike, strike the bell!
Aft on the quarterdeck,
our gallant captain stands,
Lookin' at the sea
with a spyglass in his hand.
What he′s a-thinkin',
we all know very well,
He′s thinkin' more of short'nin′ sail
than–strike the bell
Strike the bell, second mate,
let us go below,
Look well to windward
you can see it′s going to blow!
Look at the glass,
you can see that it has fell,
We wish that you would hurry up and
strike, strike the bell!