Glow-Worm

1.We were all aboard the Glowworm, steaming off the Norway shore,
Escorting the Renown, laying mines to stop the iron ore,
When down comes a signal "man overboard",
We search the deep dark waters for an hour or more,
But life in those frozen waters would be half an hour at the most,
So we call off the search and start to head off up the coast;
Full speed ahead to make up time lost,
But the weather blows foul and the ship gets tossed

And the waves on the sea how they roar,
And the chilly winds how they do blow,
And the light from the Glowworm is dying
And the light from the Glowworm is dying.



2.She pitches and she rolls and gets further adrift of the pack
And those cold Norwegian waters take no sides and show no pity deep and black.
Two more men overboard more heaving sick,
And some are injured by the rolling of the ship.
To keep ourselves clean we chose a llfe on the high seas,
No festering in a muddy hole, eaten alive by fleas,
But how we wish we were in some seaport town,
Like London or Portsmouth not rats about to drown.

And the waves on the sea how they roar,
And the chilly winds how they do blow,
And the light from the Glowworm is dying
And the light from the Glowworm is dying.


3. At dawn we sight a german ship, Paul Jacobi' by name
Opens fire on the Glowworm, and we give it back the same,
And soon the Bemdt Von Arnhem not far in advance,
Her decks full of stormtroops like an army of ants,
We knew what the meaning was, an invasion force was near,
Heading for the Norway coast, not many leagues from here,
Would we turn about our job not yet done?
No the captain was the bulldog breed, and he refused to run,

And the waves on the sea how they roar,
And the chilly winds how they do blow,
And the light from the Glowworm is dying
And the light from the Glowworm is dying.


4. How many thought him brave, though foolhardy at the best?
To steam ahead at full knots, straight into that hornet's nest,
Some cursed his tunnel vision under their breath,
Or cracked nervous jokes to hide the fear of death,
When five miles in the distance just after morning comes,
We sight the Admiral Von Hipper, with her 8 inch guns,
A Goliath of 10,000 tons of German steel and how,
Those bastards really knew their job, they'll have our range by now

And the waves on the sea how they roar,
And the chilly winds how they do blow,
And the light from the Glowworm is dying
And the light from the Glowworm is dying.

5. Now the very first salvo that the Hipper she let go,
As the Glowworm sent her signal otf struck us a mighty blow'.
We lay down a smokescreen to cover our tracks,
Then down came the order for torpedo attacks.
But be very next salvo cut through the smoke and found its mark ,
Killed the sick bay party and took down part of the mast,
Knocked down the wireless aerial into the siren's mouth,
So she wailed like a banshee is we turned about.

And the waves on the sea how they roar,
And the chilly winds how they do blow,
And the light from the Glowworm is dying
And the light from the Glowworm is dying.

6. Our torpedoes missed their market as shells they struck the engine room,
And the Glow-worm crossed the Hipper's bows,this crippled ship would be our tomb.
Our torpedoes all gone and d full steam ahead,
We'll take the Hipper with us down to the sea bed,
As like a great cathedral the cruiser loomed up tall and straight.
We rammed her amidships and took off 100 feet of armour plate,
Then we drew back from the big ship's side,
Still firing off our guns as she began to slide.

And the waves on the sea how they roar,
And the chilly winds how they do blow,
And the light from the Glowworm is dying
And the light from the Glowworm is dying.

7 The captain gave the order "abandon ship'' she's going fast,
Like Horatio on the bridge, this cigarette would be his last.
And the captain of the Hipper was a man of honour true,
They dragged 40 from the sea petty officer and crew,
They threw our captain a lifeline, but the waves swept him away,
And for 100 of our shipmates, the sea would be their resting place,
And our wives and sweethearts had to weep and wait,
Five long years to learn their loved ones' fate..

And the waves on the sea how they roar,
And the chilly winds how they do blow,
And the light from the Glowworm is dying
And the light from the Glowworm is dying.