he was the 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 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 hard on her beam ends groaning went the nightingale and overside her mainmast goes 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 the 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 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 you all now if i can see ye return as quick as can be  he was the 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 the 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 he was the 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 he was the 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