Verse 1
Out on the quarter deck and walking about,
There’s the second mate so sturdy and so stout.
What he is a-thinkin’ of he doesn’t know himself,
We wish that he would hurry up and strike, strike the bell.
Chorus
Strike the bell second mate, an’ let’s go below,
Look out to windward you can see its gonna blow.
Look at the glass you can see that it is fell,
We wish that you would hurry up and strike, strike the bell.
Verse 2
Down on the main deck and workin’ on the pumps,
There’s the starboard watch a-longin’ for their bunks.
Look out to windward and see a great swell,
We wish that you would hurry up and strike, strike the bell.
Verse 3
Aft at the wheel, poor Anderson stands,
Graspin’ at the spokes with his cold mitten hands,
Looks at the compass and the course is clear as hell,
We wish that you would hurry up and strike, strike the bell.
Verse 4
Forward at the foc’sl’ head and keeping sharp lookout,
Yonder there is John a-ready for to shout.
“Lights are burnin’ bright sir and everything is well.”
We wish that you would hurry up and strike, strike the bell.
Verse 5
Out on the poop deck the gallant captain stands,
Lookin’ out to sea with a spyglass in his hands.
What he is a-thinkin’ of we know damn well.
He’s thinking more of shortenin’ sail than striking the bell.
This song is the first with some indication of its origin. Strike the Bell is a British sailor's song that started life as a song called Ring the Bell Watchman, wich is the same original source as for Australia's "Click The Shears". "Ring the Bell Watchman" was written by Henry Clay Work, who also wrote, among other tunes, "Grandfather's Clock".
The original, and its Australian offspring, are more about what goes on whilst time is passing on the job, whereas the English seafarer's version is about urging the time to pass more quickly so that rest can be taken.
