Hang On The Bell, Nellie Lyrics

The scene was in the jail house, 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 had started when sweet Nellie said "No! No!" to Handsome Jack,
And struggled for her virtue down there 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.

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.

Nell's dad, he got arrested and brought up before the law.
The sheriff said "Old Handsome Jack ain't handsome anymore."
Poor Nell, she cried and pleaded, but the jury didn't care.
They didn't have a sofa, so they offered him the chair.

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.

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 a true and 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.
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!

Chad Mitchell Trio - Mighty Day on Campus

Sep 1997

1. Rum By Gum
2. Super Skier
3. Lizzie Bordon
4. Tale Toddle
5. Puttin' On Style
6. Hang On The Bell, Nellie
7. On My Journey