Having grown up in Falmouth and having spent many summer days fishing around the Manacles Reef, lead vocalist Steve Gilbert decided to write a poem about the darker side of this stunning feature at the edge of Falmouth Bay. He then took the poem to Cooksey to put a tune to Manacle Bell.
A hundred ships, a thousand lives
Greenstone teeth, it’s slated knives
That cut and tear the hull beneath
And disembowel upon the reef
So close to Falmouth’s haven port
A navigation point was sought
A sound was needed to foretell
The threat that lies beneath the Manacle Bell