The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #99894 Message #4172818
Posted By: Greum
22-May-23 - 12:51 PM
Thread Name: Songs about Whitby??!
Subject: RE: Songs about Whitby??!
Okay, I have transcribed the lyrics. Hope they're reasonably accurate!
By Henry the Eighth in 1539
Every abbey in the land was plundered Lead, glass and gold they were taken away And the anger of God rang out on the day For his churches all were spoiled And the heavens they did thunder.
Chorus: And how the flowing tide did make those sweet bells chime.
Whitby Abbey tower had five strong bells They were loaded onto a boat And the townsfolk watched as the ship left shore With sadness in their hearts for they never thought The bells would leave the town On a ship afloat.
She sailed out south down to Black Nab Bay The sails all a-swell in the gale But the seas fell calm and the winds dropped low And the sunlight place started to show At the Abbey ruins tower door And the sky it grew pale.
Now the seas fell wind bound as still as death And the ship rolled onto its side And she sank in sight of the folk on shore Down through the waves to the salt sea floor And the Abbey ruins tower door And the plunderers they died.
Now the bells lie still on the salt sea bed Untouched by flying time But their music peals through the sunlit seas Down through eternal centuries At night on Whitby shore You can hear their chimes.