"Heather Dale's songs express something that honors tradition, but in keeping with the best of traditions they break new ground." WDVR FM (USA)
Flowers Of Bermuda
Heather Dale Lyrics
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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
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
"Oh, Captain, are we all for drowning?" came the cry from all the crew
"The boats be smashed! How then are we all 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."
He was 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
But when the crew was all assembled and the gig prepared for sea,
Twas seen there were but eighteen places to be manned and nineteen mortal souls were we.
But cried the Captain "Now do not delay, nor do ye spare a thought for me.
My duty is to save ye all now, if I can, so ye return as quick as can be."
He was 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
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.
He was 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
The song “Flowers Of Bermuda” by Heather Dale is a story about a tragic incident that happened off the coast of Bermuda. The song tells the story of the Captain of the Nightingale, a collier ship that was on a voyage from Clyde in coal. The Captain could smell the flowers of Bermuda in the gale when he died on the North Rock Shoal. The song portrays the bravery and selflessness of the Captain, who prioritizes the safety of his crew over his own life.
In the middle of a fine October gale, the collier Nightingale encountered breakers dead ahead. The Captain brought the ship around, but the ship went over her mainmast and groaned hard on her beam ends. When the crew assembled, they realized that there was only room for 18 in the lifeboat, but there were 19 mortal souls. The Captain, who had smelled the flowers of Bermuda, insisted that he would stay and save the lives of his crew. In the end, the Captain died, tangled in the mizzen-chains with a smile on his face.
The song is very emotive, as it portrays the Captain as a selfless hero who was willing to sacrifice his own life to save his crew. The flowers of Bermuda, which were a symbol of hope and salvation to the Captain, became a poignant reminder of his tragic end.
Line by Line Meaning
He was Captain of the Nightingale
The man who died on the North Rock Shoal was the Captain of the Nightingale ship.
Twenty-one days from Clyde in coal
The Nightingale ship had traveled for twenty-one days from Clyde in coal to reach its destination.
He could smell the flowers of Bermuda in the gale
The Captain could smell the flowers of Bermuda even amidst the strong gale winds.
When he died on the North Rock Shoal
The Captain met his demise when the Nightingale ship hit the North Rock Shoal.
Just five short hours from Bermuda, in a fine October gale
The Nightingale ship was only five hours away from Bermuda when it was caught in a strong gale in October.
There came a cry "Oh, there be breakers dead ahead!" from the collier Nightingale
The Nightingale ship crew alerted the Captain of breakers ahead of them.
No sooner had the Captain brought her round, came a rending crash below
As soon as the Captain tried to turn the Nightingale ship, there was a loud, crashing sound from below.
Hard on her beam ends, groaning, went the Nightingale and overside her mainmast goes
The Nightingale ship tilted to one side and groaned before its mainmast went overboard.
"Oh, Captain, are we all for drowning?" came the cry from all the crew
The crew asked the Captain if they were all going to drown in the accident.
"The boats be smashed! How then are we all to be saved? They are stove in through and through!"
The boats were broken and the crew was concerned about how they would all be saved from the sinking ship.
"Oh, are ye brave and hardy collier-men or are ye blind and cannot see?
The Captain questioned the courage of his crew and told them to use their eyes and look for a way to be saved.
The Captain's gig still lies before ye whole and sound, it shall carry all o' we."
The Captain pointed to his gig and instructed the crew to board it, as it would be able to carry everyone to safety.
But when the crew was all assembled and the gig prepared for sea,
The crew was ready and the gig was set to leave for safety.
Twas seen there were but eighteen places to be manned and nineteen mortal souls were we.
The crew realized that there were nineteen people and only eighteen spots on the gig for them to be saved.
But cried the Captain "Now do not delay, nor do ye spare a thought for me.
The Captain told the crew not to worry about him and to leave quickly for their own safety.
My duty is to save ye all now, if I can, so ye return as quick as can be."
The Captain felt it was his duty to save the crew, even if it meant he would sacrifice his own life.
Oh, there be flowers in Bermuda. Beauty lies on every hand,
Bermuda is a beautiful place with flowers everywhere.
And there be laughter, ease and drink for every man, but there is no joy for me;
Despite the beauty and festivities in Bermuda, the Captain is not able to enjoy them as he met his death there.
For when we reached the wretched Nightingale what an awful sight was plain
When they returned to the Nightingale ship, the crew saw a terrible sight.
The Captain, drowned, was tangled in the mizzen-chains smiling bravely beneath the sea.
The brave and heroic Captain had drowned and was found smiling under the sea, tangled in the mizzen-chains.
Contributed by Victoria J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.