| Author | Topic: Add: Strike the Bell! | |
| dmcg | Posted - 20 Jan 05 - 09:40 am | |
Aft on the poop there is walking about Our bully second mate so able and stout, What he is thinking of he doesn't know himself, It seems to us he's quite forgot to strike, strike the bell! (Chorus) Strike the bell, second mate, let us go below. If you look to wind'ard you will see its goin' to blow. Look at the glass, you will see how it's fell. I wish that you would hurry up and strike, strike the bell! Aft on the maindeck working at the pumps. There is the larboard watch a-longing for their bunks, Lookin' to the wind'ard they see a great swell They're wishing that the second mate would strike, strike the bell! Aft at the whell there poor Anderson stands Grasping at the spokes with his cold, mittoned hands, Looking at the compass, the course clear to tell, He's wishing that the second mate would strike, strke the bell. For'ard on the fo'c'slehead keeping sharp lookout There is Johnny standind, he's ready to shout. "Lights burnin' bright sir! and everything is well!" He's wishing that the second mate would strike, strike the bell. Aft on the quaterdeck our cap'n there he stands Lookin' to the wind'ard with his glasses in his hands, What he is thinkin' of we know very well, He's thinking more of shortening sail than strike, strike the bell. Source: Singing Together, Spring 1974, BBC Publications Notes: The pamphlet acknowledges Spin Publications for this song, from Folk Songs from Spain - which certainly surprises me, as I have heard the English form many times. My presumption is that, like many sea-songs, they are international rather than Spanish or English, but it may be that this one has roots in some earlier Spanish song or melody. The tune has also be used for a Temperance song "Sign the Pledge", which I have heard only once, so I'm unable to provide the lyrics. Edited By dmcg - 20-Jan-2005 03:09:39 PM | ||
| Jon Freeman | Posted - 20 Jan 05 - 10:33 am | |
There is another one in the Singing Together set which uses this tune, The Shepherd and his Dog. Click Go The Shears may also be there. As far as I can gather from a quick Internet search, the tune is American, written by Henry Clay Work and was titled "Ring the Bell. | ||
| masato sakurai | Posted - 20 Jan 05 - 12:56 pm | |
The tune to "Strike the Bell" is not Spanish. It's based on Henry Clay Work's "Ring the Bell, Watchman!" (1865). Sheet music is at the Levy Collection (Click on the title below): Title: Ring the Bell, Watchman! Song and Chorus.See also broadsides at Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads: ring the bell watchman [title].The tune has also become Click, Go the Shears (Burl Ives' folio at the National Library of Australia). "Strike the Bell" is adopted as the title of Roy Palmer's song book: Strike the Bell: transport by road, canal, rail and sea in the nineteenth century through songs, ballads and contemporary accounts (Cambridge University Press, 1978). The song is on pp. 60-61 (with tune). See this Mudcat thread. Edited By masato sakurai - 20-Jan-2005 01:04:24 PM | ||
| dmcg | Posted - 20 Jan 05 - 03:06 pm | |
Thanks, all. I have updated the database notes. | ||
| masato sakurai | Posted - 22 Jan 05 - 12:14 pm | |
On the composer, this page: The Music of Henry Clay Work (1832-1884) is helpful, with lyrics & midi. | ||
| dmcg | Posted - 22 Jan 05 - 12:30 pm | |
Thanks once again. Does anyone have any idea how the suspect Spanish link might have come about? If anyone has access to the book referred to (Spin's Folk Songs of Spain), perhaps some light can be shed on how it came to be included in that work. | ||
| Mr Happy | Posted - 30 Jan 05 - 06:32 pm | |
Jon, Do you have the complete words for 'The Shepherd & his dog' please? | ||
| Jon Freeman | Posted - 30 Jan 05 - 06:47 pm | |
Here you go, Mr H, Singing Together Spring 1971. Credited there as a Welsh Folk Tune with Words By Barbra Kluge. There once was a shepherd who lived on his own. Away on the hills in a hut built of stone. He guarded his sheep and they kept to the trail, So the shepherd whistled gaily and the dog wagged his tail. In springtime he watched how the lambs in thier play All kicked up their hooves and then darted away. The dog fetched them back if they strayed to the dale, So the shepherd whistled gaily and the dog wagged his tail. In winter he sheltered away from the cold With his dog by the fire. while the flock in the fold Lay safe from the blustering, buffeting gale, So the shepherd whistled gaily and the dog wagged his tail. I loved that song as a kid but I'm not so sure of the words now... Jon | ||
| Guest Account |
Posted - 31 Jan 05 - 12:00 am | |
From: Mr Happy That's smashing Jon, thanks for such a speedy response! | ||
| Mr Happy | Posted - 31 Jan 05 - 03:13 am | |
i notice that in this somg theres no 'b' music or chorus included as in 'strike the bell' & 'clip go the shears'. was there a chorus to this one? | ||
| Jon Freeman | Posted - 31 Jan 05 - 09:15 am | |
Not that I know of Mr H. | ||
| Mr Happy | Posted - 02 Feb 05 - 01:41 am | |
I've just added a chorus of my own to the verses you supplied: 'Ba go the sheep, ba, ba, ba, ba The dog he ran and fetched them if they strayed too far On the little lambs a-gambolling, the shepherd did look If falling down he caught them safely with his trusty crook I sang it with chorus tonite at Ship Vic in Chester- went down well- wot u think? Part o' the folk process eh! | ||