Glow-worm

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

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 life on the high seas
No festering in a muddy hole, eaten alive by rats or 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

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

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

Now the very first salvo that the Hipper she let go
As the Glowworm sent her signal off 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

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

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