The Greenland Whale Fisheries Lyrics

[G] In Eighteen hundred and [D] forty [G] six
on [C] March the Eighteenth [D] day
We [G] hoisted our colors to the [D] top of the [C] mast
[G] and for Greenland [D] sailed a-[G] way, brave boys
and for Greenland [D] sailed a-[G] way
The lookout in the crow's nest stood
with his spyglass in his hand
"theres a whale, thereís a whale
and 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
and the ice was in his eye
"Overhaul, overhaul, let your jib sheets fall
and youíll put your boats to sea brave boys,
and youíll put your boats to sea
The harpoon struck and the line played out
and with a single flourish of his tail
he capsized the boat and we lost five men
and we did not catch that whale, brave boys
and we did not catch that whale
The losing of them five jolly men
it grieved the captain sore
but the losing of that fine whale fish
how it grieved him ten times more, brave boys
how it grieved him ten times more

Now, Greenland is a barren land
a land that bares no green
but theres ice and theres snow
and the whale fishes blow
and the tail is seldom seen brave boys
and the tail is seldom seen.