The members are: John Brown, Julian Brown, Jeremy Brown (these first three being brothers), Trevor Grills (died 11 February 2013), John Lethbridge, Billy Hawkins, Nigel Sherratt, Peter Rowe, John McDonnell and Jon Cleave. At 78, Peter Rowe is the oldest member, as of June 2012. Jon Cleave is the MC of the group.
All the members of the group "grew up within half a mile of Port Isaac harbour" except for John McDonnell who is a Yorkshireman. Three are fishermen, and the others are linked to the sea through service as coastguards or lifeboatmen.
The group performed at the 2010 Cornbury music festival in Oxfordshire, the Glastonbury Festival and the Cambridge Folk Festival. The group had released two CDs themselves before signing with Universal; their first album with Universal, Port Isaac's Fisherman's Friends, was recorded in St Kew Parish Church, Cornwall, and released in April 2010.
www.fishermansfriendsportisaac.co.uk
Strike the Bell
Fisherman's Friends Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Second mate Hawkins is so sturdy and so stout
What he is thinkin' of, he doesn′t know himself
We wish that he would hurry up and strike, strike the bell
Strike the bell, second mate
Let us go below
Look away to windward
Look at the glass
You can see that it has fell
We wish that you would hurry up and strike, strike the bell
Down in the engine room, workin' on the pumps
Leftie′s gettin′ oily and he's ready for his bunk
He cannot find the spanner and he swears likе merry hell
Wishin′ that the sеcond mate would strike, strike the bell
Strike the bell, second mate
Let us go below
Look away to windward
You can see it's gonna blow
Look at the glass
You can see that it has fell
We wish that you would hurry up and strike, strike the bell
Up on the main deck, haulin′ on the rope
The brown boys look to windward and they are not filled with hope
They see on the horizon, headin' in to swell
Wishin′ that the second mate would strike, strike the bell
Strike the bell, second mate
Let us go below
Look away to windward
You can see it's gonna blow
Look at the glass
You can see that it has fell
We wish that you would hurry up and strike, strike the bell
Up in the wheelhouse, Jason leads the band
Holdin' a squeezebox in his cold and weary hands
Plays a tune to tell us, ′We′re sailin' into hell′
Wishin' that the second mate would strike, strike the bell
Strike the bell, second mate
Let us go below
Look away to windward
You can see it′s gonna blow
Look at the glass
You can see that it has fell
We wish that you would hurry up and strike, strike the bell
Forward in the foc'sle head, keepin′ sharp lookout
Johnny Mac is bawlin' in his brood Northern shout
'The lights are burnin′ brightly, sir, everything is well′
He's wishin′ that the second mate would strike, strike the bell
Strike the bell, second mate
Let us go below
Look away to windward
You can see it's gonna blow
Look at the glass
You can see that it has fell
We wish that you would hurry up and strike, strike the bell
Down on the mess deck, Toby′s out of bed
Ready for the dog watch with a tricorn on his head
Thinks about Demelza, makes his poor heart swell
Hopin' that the second mate will strike, strike the bell
Strike the bell, second mate
Let us go below
Look away to windward
You can see it′s gonna blow
Look at the glass
You can see that it has fell
We wish that you would hurry up and strike, strike the bell
Upon the main deck, Captain Cleave does stand
On the hunt for mermaids with a spyglass in his hand
What he is thinkin' of, we all know very well
He's dreamin′ more of chasin′ tail than strikin' the bell
Strike the bell, second mate
Let us go below
Look away to windward
You can see it′s gonna blow
Look at the glass
You can see that it has fell
We wish that you would hurry up and strike, strike the bell
Strike the bell, second mate
Let us go below
Look away to windward
You can see it's gonna blow
Look at the glass
You can see that it has fell
We wish that you would hurry up and strike, strike the bell
"Strike the Bell" by Fisherman's Friends is a bouncy, sea shanty song that tells the story of a ship's crew on a stormy night at sea. The lyrics are about the different crew members and their various duties and responsibilities, but all of them wish that the second mate would hurry up and ring the ship's bell to signal that they can go below deck and take shelter from the storm. The chorus repeats throughout the song, asking the second mate to "strike the bell" so that they can all seek refuge from the storm.
The first verse describes the second mate, Hawkins, who is walking around the poop deck, but seems lost in thought or distracted. The crew wants him to hurry up and ring the bell so that they can seek shelter from the approaching storm. The second verse is about the crew working in the engine room, where things are getting oily and cramped. Leftie, one of the workers, is unable to find a spanner and is swearing in frustration. Like the crew on the deck above, they are hoping the second mate will ring the bell soon.
The third verse is about the crew members on the main deck, who are hauling on ropes and keeping an eye on the horizon. They can see that the storm is approaching and are hoping that the second mate will ring the bell before the weather gets too bad. The fourth verse is about the crew members in the wheelhouse, where Jason is playing a squeezebox to try and keep everyone's spirits up. The captain is on the deck looking through his spyglass, which suggests that he is less concerned about the approaching storm than he is about the possibility of catching sight of mermaids.
The fifth verse describes a crew member in the forward part of the ship who is keeping a lookout. Johnny Mac is on the lookout and reassures everyone that all is well, but he too wishes that the second mate would ring the bell soon. The sixth and final verse is about Toby, who is getting ready to take the dog watch. Toby is thinking about Demelza, which is making his heart swell. Like the other crew members, Toby is hoping that the second mate will ring the bell soon so that they can all seek shelter from the storm.
Overall, "Strike the Bell" is an upbeat and catchy sea shanty that captures the feeling of being on a ship in a storm. The lyrics are humorous and playful, and the chorus is easy to sing along to.
Line by Line Meaning
Out on the poop deck, walkin′ about
The singer is observing someone walking on the poop deck.
Second mate Hawkins is so sturdy and so stout
The singer is describing the physical attributes of second mate Hawkins.
What he is thinkin' of, he doesn′t know himself
The singer is unsure about what second mate Hawkins is thinking about.
We wish that he would hurry up and strike, strike the bell
The artist wants second mate Hawkins to ring the ship's bell.
Down in the engine room, workin' on the pumps
The artist is describing the location and activity of some crew members.
Leftie′s gettin′ oily and he's ready for his bunk
The singer is stating that a crew member named Leftie is oily and ready to rest.
He cannot find the spanner and he swears likе merry hell
The singer is conveying that Leftie is struggling to find a tool and is swearing a lot.
Wishin′ that the second mate would strike, strike the bell
The crew members are wishing that second mate Hawkins would ring the ship's bell.
Up on the main deck, haulin′ on the rope
The artist is describing the location and activity of some crew members.
The brown boys look to windward and they are not filled with hope
The artist is stating that some crew members, possibly of color, are feeling pessimistic about the situation.
They see on the horizon, headin' in to swell
The singer is saying that the crew members see an approaching storm on the horizon.
Wishin′ that the second mate would strike, strike the bell
The crew members are wishing that second mate Hawkins would ring the ship's bell.
Up in the wheelhouse, Jason leads the band
The singer is describing the location and activity of some crew members.
Holdin' a squeezebox in his cold and weary hands
The singer is saying that Jason is holding and playing a squeezebox, and that he is tired and cold.
Plays a tune to tell us, ′We′re sailin' into hell′
The singer is conveying that Jason is playing a tune that signals the crew members that they are sailing into a dangerous situation.
Wishin' that the second mate would strike, strike the bell
The crew members are wishing that second mate Hawkins would ring the ship's bell.
Forward in the foc'sle head, keepin′ sharp lookout
The artist is describing the location and activity of some crew members.
Johnny Mac is bawlin' in his brood Northern shout
The singer is saying that Johnny Mac is shouting in a Northern accent.
'The lights are burnin′ brightly, sir, everything is well′
Johnny Mac is telling the captain that everything is going well.
He's wishin′ that the second mate would strike, strike the bell
Johnny Mac is also hoping that second mate Hawkins would ring the ship's bell.
Down on the mess deck, Toby′s out of bed
The artist is describing the location and activity of some crew members.
Ready for the dog watch with a tricorn on his head
The artist is saying that Toby is fully dressed and ready for his shift, wearing a tricorn hat.
Thinks about Demelza, makes his poor heart swell
The singer is saying that Toby is thinking about someone and is feeling emotional.
Hopin' that the second mate will strike, strike the bell
Toby is also hoping that second mate Hawkins would ring the ship's bell.
Upon the main deck, Captain Cleave does stand
The singer is describing the location of the captain.
On the hunt for mermaids with a spyglass in his hand
The singer is conveying that the captain is using a spyglass to search for mermaids.
What he is thinkin' of, we all know very well
The singer is implying that the captain's true intentions are obvious to everyone.
He's dreamin' more of chasin' tail than strikin' the bell
The artist is saying that the captain is more interested in flirting with women than ringing the ship's bell.
Strike the bell, second mate
The crew members are urging second mate Hawkins to ring the ship's bell.
Let us go below
The crew wants to go below deck where it is safer.
Look away to windward
The crew is looking toward the windward direction of the ship.
You can see it′s gonna blow
The crew can tell that a storm is approaching.
Look at the glass
The crew is referring to the barometer, which is used to measure atmospheric pressure.
You can see that it has fell
The crew can see that the atmospheric pressure is dropping, which means a storm is coming.
Writer(s): Toby Lobb
Contributed by Elizabeth N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Rob
on Blow the Man Down
I was as drunk as a skunk out on Paradise Street
Wey hey blow the man down
When a minging old strumpet I chanced for to meet
Give me some time to blow the man down
She had hair like a scarecrow and a rolling glass eye
Wey hey blow the man down
And I fell for her charms as she hobbled on by
Give me some time to blow the man down
Chorus:
Blow the man down bullys, blow the man down
Wey hey blow the man down
Blow him right back into Liverpool town
Give me some time to blow the man down
Her topsails were flapping, her rigging ran free
Wey hey blow the man down
And she clewed up her corsets and winked right at me
Give me some time to blow the man down
She was steamy and beamy and broad in the bow
Wey hey blow the man down
"Get your coat boy you've pulled and come 'ome with me now"
Give me some time to blow the man down
Chorus
I slapped and I tickled, she giggled and swooned
Wey hey blow the man down
And all the night long we canoodled and spooned
Give me some time to blow the man down
Yes all the night long won't you give me a clap?
Wey hey blow the man down
And that's just what she give me and I ain't going back
Give me some time to blow the man down
Chorus x 2