Aft on the p*** deck walking 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.
[Chorus:]
Strike the bell second mate, let us go below;
Look ya well to windward you can see it's going to 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.
Now down on the main deck and workin' at the pumps,
There"s the Larboard watch just longing for their bunks;
Looking to the windward, they see a great swell,
They"re wishing that the Second Mate would strike, strike the bell
[Chorus]
Oh aft at the wheel poor old Anderson stands,
Clutchin' at the spokes with his cold mittened hands,
Lookin' at the compass head the course is sure as well
He's wishin' that the second mate would strike, strike the bell.
[Chorus]
Well forward on the forecastle head and keepin' sharp lookout,
There is Johny standin', ready fer to shout,
The lights' a-burnin' bright sir everything is well,
We"re wishin' that the second mate would strike, strike the bell.
[Chorus]
Oh aft on the quarter deck our gallant captain stands,
Lookin' at the sea with a spyglass in his hands,
What he is a-thinkin' we all know very well,
He's thinkin' more of shortenin' sail than strike the bell.
[Chorus]
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.
[Chorus:]
Strike the bell second mate, let us go below;
Look ya well to windward you can see it's going to 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.
Now down on the main deck and workin' at the pumps,
There"s the Larboard watch just longing for their bunks;
Looking to the windward, they see a great swell,
They"re wishing that the Second Mate would strike, strike the bell
[Chorus]
Oh aft at the wheel poor old Anderson stands,
Clutchin' at the spokes with his cold mittened hands,
Lookin' at the compass head the course is sure as well
He's wishin' that the second mate would strike, strike the bell.
[Chorus]
Well forward on the forecastle head and keepin' sharp lookout,
There is Johny standin', ready fer to shout,
The lights' a-burnin' bright sir everything is well,
We"re wishin' that the second mate would strike, strike the bell.
[Chorus]
Oh aft on the quarter deck our gallant captain stands,
Lookin' at the sea with a spyglass in his hands,
What he is a-thinkin' we all know very well,
He's thinkin' more of shortenin' sail than strike the bell.
[Chorus]