[Chorus]

He was the Captain of the Nightingale

Twenty-one days from Clyde in coal

He could smell the flowers of Bermuda in the gale

When he died on the North Rock shoal

[Verse 1]

Just five short hours from Bermuda

In a fine October gale

There came a cry "Oh, there be breakers dead ahead!"

From the collier Nightingale

No sooner had the Captain brought her round

Came a rending crash below

Hard on her beam ends, groaning, went the Nightingale

And overside her mainmast goes

[Verse 2]

"Oh, Captain, are we all for drowning?"

Came the cry from all the crew

"The boats be smashed! How are we all then to be saved?

They are stove in through and through!"

"Oh, are ye brave and hardy collier-men

Or are ye blind and cannot see?

The Captain's gig still lies before ye whole and sound

It shall carry all o' we."

(Here we go!)

[Chorus]

He was the Captain of the Nightingale

Twenty-one days from Clyde in coal

He could smell the flowers of Bermuda in the gale

When he died on the North Rock shoal

[Verse 3]

But when the crew were all assembled

And the gig prepared for sea

'Twas seen there were but eighteen places to be manned

Nineteen mortal souls were we

But cries the Captain "Now do not delay

Nor do ye spare a thought for me

My duty is to save you all now, if I can

See ye return quick as can be."

[Chorus]

He was the Captain of the Nightingale

Twenty-one days from Clyde in coal

He could smell the flowers of Bermuda in the gale

When he died on the North Rock shoal

[Interlude]

[Verse 4]

Oh, there be flowers in Bermuda

Beauty lies on every hand

And there be laughter, ease and drink for every man

But there is no joy for me

For when we reached the wretched Nightingale

What an awful sight was plain!

The Captain, drowned, was tangled in the mizzen-chains

Smiling bravely beneath the sea

[Chorus]

He was the Captain of the Nightingale

Twenty-one days from Clyde in coal

He could smell the flowers of Bermuda in the gale

When he died on the North Rock shoal

He was the Captain of the Nightingale

Twenty-one days from Clyde in coal

He could smell the flowers of Bermuda in the gale

When he died on the North Rock shoal

He was the Captain of the Nightingale

Twenty-one days from Clyde in coal

He could smell the flowers of Bermuda in the gale

When he died on the North Rock shoal