Eight Bells

(Instrumental intro)

Ship bell ringing, ringing, ringing  
    
Eight bells
The Bosun’s ringing eight bells
And set sail with a running tide
We are leaving ‘olde’ England
For there was no place there                                  
Left there, for me to hide                                         
Not in England
Forsaking England                      
I’ll take my chances
There will be new chances
Waiting on the other side

(Instrumental break)

Ship bell ringing              
On the hour ringing

Now the ‘dog watch’ is ringing
And the land left …
On the horizon, far behind
Now comes the time
The time to free you                                    
To free you from my mind
It’s not England that I’ll be missing                    
But memories of a loving smile
Not easily forgotten           
Not fading
Along with that receding Isle                                

(Instrumental break)

Wind’s a’whistling
Can you hear it whistling

The night watch is ringing
Eight bells ringing

A pale moon slowly rises
And the prow begins to plough                         
Reaching for the unknown               
As the night winds begin to howl  
Is it just the rigging
You are hearing groan?

Ship bell ringing                     

Eight bells ringing ....

Rodd Sherwin
to a composition by
Jeremy Williams