Greenland Whale Fisheries Lyrics
(The Pogues' Version)
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In eighteen hundred and forty-six
And of March the eighteenth day
We hoisted our colors to the top of the mast
And for Greenland sailed away, brave boys
And for Greenland sailed away
The lookout in the crosstrees stood
With spyglass in his hand;
There's a whale, there's a whale
And a whalefish he cried
And she blows at every span, brave boys
She blows at every span
The captain stood on the quarter deck
The ice was in his eye;
Overhaul, overhaul! Let your gibsheets fall
And you'll put your boats to sea, brave boys
And you'll put your boats to sea
Our harpoon struck and the line played out
With a single flourish of his tail
He capsized the 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 those five jolly men
It grieved the captain sore
But the losing of that fine whalefish
Now it grieved him ten times more, brave boys
Now it grieved him ten times more
Oh Greenland is a barren land
A land that bares no green
Where there's ice and snow, and the whalefishes blow
And the daylight's seldom seen, brave boys
And the daylight's seldom seen
(Greenland Fisheries)
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'Twas in eighteen hundred and fifty-three
And of June the thirteenth day
That our gallant ship her anchor weighed
And for Greenland bore away, brave boys
And for Greenland bore away
The lookout in the crosstrees stood
With spyglass in his hand;
There's a whale, there's a whale
There's whalefish he cried
And she blows at every span, brave boys
She blows at every span
The captain stood on the quarter deck
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And a fine little man was he;
Overhaul, overhaul! Let your davit tackles fall
And launch your boats for sea, brave boys
And launch your boats for sea
Now the boats were launched and the men aboard
And the whale was full in view
Resolved was each seaman bold
To steer where the whalefish blew, brave boys
To steer where the whalefish blew
We stuck the whale the line paid out
But she gave a flourish with her tail
The boat capsized and four men were drowned
And we never caught that whale, brave boys
And we never caught that whale
To lose the whale, our captain said
It grieves my heart full sore
But oh! to lose (those) four gallant men
It grieves me ten times more, brave boys
It grieves me ten times more
The winter star doth now appear
So, boys we'll anchor weight;
It's time to leave this cold country
And homeward bear away, brave boys
And homeward bear away
Oh Greenland is a dreadful place
A land that's never green
Where there's ice and snow, and the whalefishes blow
And the daylight's seldom seen brave boys
But the daylight's seldom seen
