Whitby Bells

Lyrics

1
In the terrible year 1539
King Henry committed so foul a crime;
Because of his unending greed
He committed his most shameful deed.
“Go strip Whitby’s Abbey bare;
For my own soul I have no care.
The lead and gold send straight to me;
Transport the bells on ship by sea.”

Chorus
Each day at full tide, Whitby’s bells are her pride,
Each day at full tide, Whitby’s bells are her pride,
And still their voices peel and speak,
Ring out with joy from out the deep.
Each day at full tide, Whitby’s bells are her pride.

2
For Whitby ’twas a bitter day,
And the gathering folk all knelt to pray;
The bells that were fair Whitby’s crown,
Sailing for far London town.
The wind did rise and the sails did fill,
It seemed the King would have his will.
The wind did fall in sight of land;
Hushed with wonder the people stand.

Chorus:

3
On a sea like glass and still as a tomb,
The curse`d ship awaits her doom;
Timbers did moan and sailors did groan,
And the curse`d ship sank like a stone.
Then how the people all did sing,
As from the depths the bells did ring.
Whitby’s bells will never sleep,
They ring forever from the deep.

Final Chorus
(sing twice round as written, then repeat final line at end)

This is a contemporary song about Yorkshire.

Provenance

Whitby Bells – Gus Gomersal, Batley, West Yorkshire – 1975

The song relates a well-known legend of an event from the sixteenth century. For more information go to: www.whitby-yorkshire.co.uk/folklore/folklore.htm and click on ‘Legend of the Bells’.

Lyrics as sung by the harmony group known as Squire (Hilary Simpson (nee Wood), Janice Holt, Kevin Thurlow and David Taylor) circa 1978.

Recording by Sandrigg comprising Hilary Simpson and Malcolm and Jeannie Deakin (2008).

The legend inspired another song of the same name composed by Dave Totterdell, which was recorded on his 1977 album Whitby Bells.