In the days of the tall ships, there were two work shifts, called the starboard and larboard watches. The change of shift was signaled by the Second Mate, by ringing the ship's bell.
lyrics
Up on the poop deck, a-walkin' about,
There stands the second mate, so steady and so stout.
What he is a-thinkin' of, nobody can tell.
We're wishing he would hurry up and strike, strike the bell!
Strike the bell, second mate, let us go below,
Look you well to weather, you can see it's going to blow.
Look at the glass, you can see that it is fell.
We're wishing you would hurry up and strike, strike the bell!
Aft at the wheel, cold Austin he stands,
Grasping at the spokes with his frozen mittened hands.
He looks at the compass, the course is clear as Hell!
He's wishin' that the second mate would strike, strike the bell!
Down on the main deck, workin’ at the pumps,
There is the starboard watch, a-longin’ for their bunks.
Lookin’ off to windward, they see an aweful swell,
They’re wishin’ that the second mate would strike, strike the bell.
For’ard at the fo’cs’le head, keepin’ sharp lookout,
There’s Jimmy standin’, a-ready for to shout,
The lights are burnin’ bright, and everything is well,
He's wishin’ that the second mate would strike, strike the bell.
Out on the quarterdeck, our gallant captain stands,
Looking out to windward with a spyglass in his hands.
What he is a-thinkin' of, we all know very well.
He's thinkin' more of shortening sail than strike, strike the bell!
When you think of wandering minstrels, do you ever think they might live on a boat? SaltyPaws is a sailing acoustic duo,
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