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Fire in the galley, fire down below; It's fetch a bucket of water, boys, There's fire down below. Chorus: Fire! fire! fire down below; It's fetch a bucket of water, boys, There's fire down below. |
Fire in the forepeak, fire down below; It's fetch a bucket of water, boys, There's fire down below. Chorus: Fire in the windlass, fire in the chain; It's fetch a bucket of water, boys, And put it out again. Chorus: |
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Fire up aloft and fire down below; It's fetch a bucket of water, boys, There's fire down below. Chorus: |
Originally a pumping shanty, 'Fire Down Below' survived the advent of iron and steel ships which did not need pumping by hand by rapidly turning into a capstan shanty - a purpose for which it was admirably suited. As a technical tour of a sailing ship it has endeared itself to sailors down the ages. Fire aboard ship was certainly no joking matter. The joke in this song is that none of the sites of fire referred to were, in fact, inflammable. Of course, there was always a fire in the galley - to cook on.
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