The Greenland Whale Fishery

We may no longer stay ashore
Since we’re so deep in debt
So off to Greenland we will steer
Some money for to get, brave boys
Some money for to get
It was eighteen hundred and thirty-four
On March the seventeenth day
That we hoist our colours to the top of the tree
And for Greenland bore away, brave boys
For Greenland bore away
John Randolph was our captain’s name
Our ship the Lion so bold
We had fifteen men and they were brave
For to face the wind and cold, brave boys
To face the wind and cold
It was when we come to thm icy grounds
Our good ship for to moor
It was then that we wished ourslves back again
With the pretty girls ashore, brave boys
With the pretty girls ashore
Our bosun he goes up aloft
With a spyglass in his hand
«It's a whale, a whale, oh a whale-fish,» he cries
«And he blows at every span, brave boys
And he blows at every span.»
Our captain walked on the quarterdeck
And the ice was in his eye
«Overhaul, overhaul, let your davit tackle falls.»
And we launch our boats all three, brave boys
We launch our boats all three
Well, every keel had its bold harpooner
It’s pikeaneer a steerer also
And four jolly tars for to pull at the oars
And a-whaling we did go, brave boys
Oh a-whaling we did go
Well, our boats got down, and the men all in
And the whale was full in view
Resolved, resolved, was them whalermen so bold
To strike when the whale-fish blew, brave boys
To strike when the whale-fish blew
Well, the harpoon struck, and down went the whale
With a flourish of his tail
And by chance we lost two men overboard
No more Greenland for you, brave boys
And we never caught that whale
When the captain heard of the loss of his men
It grieved his heart full sore
But when he heard of the loss of the whale
It was half-mast colours all, brave boys
It was half-mast colours all
The winter star did now appear
And it’s time our anchor for to weigh
To stow below our running gear
And from Greenland bear away, brave boys
From Greenland bear away
Oh, that Greenland is a dreadful place
No longer can we stay
Now the cold winds blow and the whales do go
And it’s seldom ever day, brave boys
It’s seldom ever day