3835. Flowers of Bermuda (Stan Rogers cover)

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Written in the spring of 1978 by the Canadian singer-songwriter Stan Rogers, “The Flowers of Bermuda” tells the story of a ship that founders with nineteen people aboard.

The Nightingale was a coal-carrying sailing vessel (or collier, as she is called in the song), which struck the North Rock reef off Bermuda and began to sink. All her boats but one were smashed in the collision, and the crew found the remaining boat just big enough to carry all the men to safety – except for one. The captain did not hesitate and he bravely remained on board, sending the crew to shore with instructions that some of them return for him. The crew made it safely to shore, and 18 men were saved. Unfortunately when the boat returned, the captain had drowned, much to the dismay of the sailor who narrates the song. Although based on a true story, many of the details of the song are fictional.

This song was suggested by YouTube friend, Jennifer Burdoo.

Lyrics and chords:
A ……........…… D ….... E7 …………........ A
He was the captain of the Nightingale,
………….........…. E7 …..…...... D …...… E7
Twenty-One days from Clyde in coal.
A ….………...........………. D ……..........…... A .….......… D
He could smell the flowers of Bermuda in the gale,
….......…..… A ….....…..... E7 ……........…. A
When he died on the North Rock Shoal.

Just five short hours from Bermuda,
In a fine October gale,
There came a cry, "O there be breakers dead ahead!"
From the Collier Nightingale.

No sooner had the captain brought her round,
Came a rending crash below.
Hard on her beam ends groaning went the Nightingale,
And overside her mainmast goes.

"O Captain, are we all for drowning?"
Came the cry from all the crew.
"The boats be smashed. How are we all then to be saved?
They are stove in through and through."

Oh, are ye brave and hearty 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 ...

But when the crew were all assembled,
And the gig prepared for sea,
Twas seen there were but eighteen places to be manned,
Nineteen mortal souls were we.

But cries 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,
See ye return quick as can be."

He was …

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 chain,
Smiling bravely beneath the sea.

He was ...