Lyr Req: Sink the Bismarck (Johnny Horton)

Subject: Sink(ing of) the Bismarck
From: flotsam
Date: 07 Jan 00 - 04:40 PM

Lyrics for Sink(ing of) the Bismarck? Anyone?

Subject: Lyr Add: SINK THE BISMARCK
From: Wincing Devil
Date: 07 Jan 00 - 04:57 PM

I have a recording that was edited out of the Blues Brothers movie, when they are in the c/w bar and sing "Sink the Bismarck."

The year was 1941; the war had just begun.
The Germans had the biggest ship that had the biggest guns.
The Bismarck was the fastest ship to sail the seven seas,
With her guns as big as snares and her shells as big as trees.

CHORUS: We'll find that German battleship that's making such a fuss.
We got to sink the Bismarck 'cause the world depends on us.
We'll hit the decks a-runnin' and we'll swing those guns around,
And when we find the Bismarck, we're gonna cut 'er down.

Out of the cold and foggy night came the British ship the Hood,
And as a British seaman, she knew and understood
We had to sink the Bismarck, the terror of the sea,
With her guns as big as snares firing shells as big as trees. CHORUS

The Hood found the Bismarck and on that fatal day
The Bismarck started firing 15 miles away.
"We have to sink the Bismarck," was the battle sound,
But when the smoke had cleared away the mighty Hood went down. CHORUS

For six long days and weary nights, they tried to find her trail.
Sir Churchill told the people, "Set every ship asail,
For somewhere on that ocean I know she's gotta be.
We gotta send the Bismarck to the bottom of the sea." CHORUS

The fog was gone the seventh day and they saw the morning sun.
Ten hours away from homeland, the Bismarck made its run.
We have to sink the Bismarck was the battle cry. CHORUS

The British guns were aimed and the shells were coming fast.
The first one hit the Bismarck. They knew she couldn't last.
And now that mighty is just a memory.
"Sink the Bismarck" was the battle cry that sailed the seven seas. CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: sinking of the bismarck
From:
Date: 07 Jan 00 - 05:07 PM

See the same links that I gave on the Battle of New Orleans thread.

Battle of New Orleans

There are several generic sites with lyrics, and also might have the chords for guitar players on both Cowpie and OLGA sites.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: sinking of the bismarck
From: catspaw49
Date: 07 Jan 00 - 05:18 PM

Easily found with Max'z new "Forum Super Search" too........but whatever winds your watch.

Spaw

Subject: ADD: Sinking of HMS Hood
From: wildlone
Date: 07 Jan 00 - 09:22 PM

THE SINKING OF HMS 'HOOD'
(Tune: 'Silent Night')

When HMS Hood went down in the deep,
That was the news that made most mothers weep,
For their sons who had fought for their country so proud,
Lie deep down below with the sea for a shroud.,
They're sleeping in heavenly peace,
Sleeping in heavenly peace.,

Then came the day with her guns in full play,
The Hood she was sunk that sad day in May.,
They had a duty which they had to do,
We are still proud of the Red, White and Blue,
But for our boys we are sad,
Yes for our boys we are sad.,

It was King George the Fifth, the Prince of Wales too,
They took in hand what the Hood had to do,
The Norfolk, the Suffolk, Dorsetshire as well,
Along with the Rodney sent Bismark to hell.,
Now the seas are clear, all is well,
We're proud of our Navy so swell.,

So mothers and wives and sweethearts be proud,
Though your boys lie below with the sea for a shroud,
They were fighting for freedom, lets never forget,
For us to be British and Brirish we're yet,
They're sleeping in heavenly peace,
Sleeping in heavenly peace,

Taken from "Grey Funnel Lines" A book compiled by Cyril Tawney.

Subject: songbook "Grey Funnel Lines" - Tawney
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Jan 00 - 09:36 PM

Wildlone, that sounds like a book I might want to add to my collection. Can you tell more about it?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: sinking of the bismarck
From: wildlone
Date: 07 Jan 00 - 09:54 PM

Joe,It is now sadly out of print I managed to get a copy using a book search and it cost me £30.
Cyril Tawney served in the Royal Navy and collected songs sung on board and ashore, He allso wrote song including the only submarine sea shanty.I have a copy of that somewhere I will find it and post it tomorrow.

Grey Funnel Lines
Pub 1987 Routledge&Kegan paul Ltd
ISBN 0-7102-1270-4

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: sinking of the bismarck
From: flotsam
Date: 07 Jan 00 - 10:18 PM

many thanks!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: sinking of the bismarck
From: Marymac90
Date: 07 Jan 00 - 10:55 PM

That submarine shanty would no doubt be "Diesel and Shale", which was recorded by Tom Lewis on his self-released "Surfacing". He spent 17 years serving on submarines in the British navy. I could transcribe it if wildlone's book is unfindable.

When I was a kid, "Sink the Bismark" and "The Battle of New Orleans" were hits on pop radio, both sung by Johnny Horton, I think. I loved both of these songs back then-I wasn't a pacifist yet! Still, there's something in the beat and rhythm of such songs that moves me. I also like sacred harp and gospel, though I'm not a christian. And I like drinking songs, though I rarely drink much. I'm not sure exactly why-maybe it's something about songs that can be sung by a large group of people in harmony?

Mary McCaffrey

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: sinking of the bismarck
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 07 Jan 00 - 11:55 PM

Good job,wincing. You don't have the words to North to Alaska, do you?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: sinking of the bismarck
From: Smitty
Date: 08 Jan 00 - 12:03 AM

Get Sinking of Bismark, Battle of New Orleans, North to Alaska and all other Horton hits on Columbia CS 8396 (33rpm) (circa 1960? Johnny Horton's Greatest Hits. Lotsa luck...

Subject: Lyr Add: CHICKEN ON A RAFT (Cyril Tawney)
From: wildlone
Date: 08 Jan 00 - 07:27 AM

I was thinking of Chicken on a Raft

CHICKEN ON A RAFT
Cyril Tawney.

The Skipper's in the Ward room drinking gin,
Hi ho chicken on a raft,
I don't mind you knocking but you ain't comin' in,
Hi ho chicken on a raft,
The Jim is a laughing like a drain,
Hi ho chicken on a raft.
Been lookin' at me comic book again.
Hi ho chicken on a raft.

Chorus.
Up! Chicken on a raft on a Monday morning,
Oh what a terrible sight to see,
Dab toes for'ard the dustman aft
A-sittin' there picking on a chicken on a raft,
Hi ho chicken on a raft!
Hi ho chicken on a raft!
Hi ho chicken on a raft!
A-sittin' there picking on a chicken on a raft.

They gave me the middle and the for'ard too,
And now I'm pulling in a whaling crew,
There's a seagull weaving overhead,
I ought to be sleeping in a feather bed.

Chorus

I had a little girl in Doneaglibe,
Did she make a fool of me,
Her heart was like a passing shower,
From hot to cold in a quarter of an hour.

Chorus

We said goodbye on the midnight bus,
And she didn't cry and she didn't fuss,
Am I the man that she loves best,
Or am I just the cuckoo in another man's nest.

Chorus

An Amazon girl lives in Dumfries,
She only has her kids in twos and threes,
Her sister lives in Maryhill,
She says she won't but I know she will.

Chorus.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: sinking of the bismarck
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 08 Jan 00 - 08:44 AM

Cyril has a web site in the UK. I can recommend the Tapes and the books. I still get a kick out of his songs, my daughter bought me two used tapes for Christmas. I have'nt stopped laughing yet. Yours, Aye. Dave

Bell bottom trousers coat of navy blue let him climb the rigging like his daddy used to do......

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: sinking of the bismarck
From:
Date: 08 Jan 00 - 09:17 AM

Lonesome EJ

Check the Johnny Horton sites I gave in the Battle of New Orleans thread up above.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: sinking of the bismarck
From: kendall
Date: 09 Jan 00 - 09:09 AM

guns as big as SNARES ?? are you sure thats right?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: sinking of the bismarck
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 09 Jan 00 - 09:36 AM

Nope, it was 'steers'. I remember clearly - I always thought it was an odd similie.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: sinking of the bismarck
From: Pete Peterson
Date: 09 Jan 00 - 11:20 AM

"Guns as big as snares" makes perfect sense to me. Consider a snare drum, looked at from direcly over the drum. Diameter about 16 inches. . . and didn't the Bismark have sixteen inch guns? (Allan Block used to say "Pull over, Buddy, let's see your poetic license")

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: sinking of the bismarck
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 09 Jan 00 - 06:52 PM

G'day Wildlone,

In Chicken on a Raft, I think that is "Pusser's Shower" (with 'u' as in 'cut')... really the 'Purser's shower' ... the Navy's shower ... the lousy one that goes cold after a few minutes.

Regards,

Bob Bolton