Chad Mitchell Trio - Hang On The Bell, Nellie lyrics

The scene was in the jailhouse, and if curfew rang that night Nell's dad in number 13 cell would go out like a light She knew her dad was innocent, so plucky Little Nell She tied her tender torso to the clapper of the bell Hang on the bell, Nellie, hang on the bell Your poor daddy's locked in a cold prison cell As you swing to the left, Nellie swing to the right Remember that curfew bell must never ring tonight It all started when sweet Nellie said, "No! No!" to Handsome Jack And struggled for her virtue there down by the railroad track Nell's dad came to her rescue as the train roared down the line Jack fell back across the track and paid the price of crime Nell's dad he got arrested, and brought up before the Law The Sheriff said, "Old Handsome Jack ain't handsome any more" Poor Nell she cried and pleaded, but the jury didn't care They didn't have a sofa, so they offered him the chair They pulled upon the bell rope, but there was no ting-a-ling They could not get their foul deed done, for curfew would not ring To and fro aloft swung Nell, while below they pulled and heaved When suddenly a voice cried "Stop! Your daddy's been reprieved!" They cut her fair young body down, while she made protests weak And as they laid her out upon the ground, she cried in girlish pique: "Look I tried to save my daddy, which was true a noble thing But still, while I was up there, man I learned it's fun to swing." Hang on the bell, Nellie, hang on the bell So your poor daddy's sprung from his cold prison cell As you swing to the left, Nellie swing to the right No matter when that curfew rings, we're gonna swing tonight