The Dubliners - Greenland Whale Fishery

In eighteen hundred and forty-four, on March the eighteenth day
We hoisted our colors to the top of the mast
And for Greenland bore away, brave boys
And for Greenland bore away

The lookout on the mainmast stood, the ice was in his eye
There's a whale, there's a whale, there's a whale fish he cried
And she blows at every span, brave boys
And she blows at every span

The Captain stood on the quarter-deck, a spy-glass in his hand
Overhaul, overhaul, let your jib sheets fall
And go put your boats to sea, brave boys
And go put your boats to sea

The boats were lowered, with men on board, the whale was full in view
Resolved, resolved was each whaler man bold
For to steer where the whale fish blew, brave boys
For to steer where the whale fish blew

The harpoon struck and the line played out, one single flash of his tail
He capsized our boat and we lost five men
And we did not catch the whale, brave boys
And we did not catch the whale

The losing of these five jolly men, it grieved our Captain sore
The losing of that sperm whale fish
Now this grieved him ten times more, brave boys
Now this grieved him ten times more

"Up anchor now," the Captain he cried, "for the winter stars do appear."
"And it's time we left this cold country,"
"And for England we shall steer, brave boys."
"And for England we shall steer."

For Greenland is a barren land, a land that bares no green
But there's ice and snow and the whale fishes blow
And the daylight's seldom seen, brave boys
And the daylight's seldom seen

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The Dubliners - Greenland Whale Fishery