Greenland Whale Fishery

Variant of a 19th century British broadside ballad, published by W. Armstrong (Liverpool) sometime between 1820 and 1824. A. L. Loyd says a form of it was published as a ballad before 1725.

 

Greenland Whale Fishery

They’ve took us jolly sailor lads
A-fishin for the whale
On the fourth day of August in 1864
Bound for Greenland we set sail
Brave boys, Bound for greenland we set sail
 
 
The lookout stood on the cross trees high
With the spy glass to 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,
And a sod of a man was he
“Overhaul, overhaul, let your davit tackles fall
And go put them boats to sea!”
Brave boys, And go put them 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,
But she gave a flurry with her tail
And she capsized our boat, we lost seven of our men
And we did not catch that whale,
Brave boys, And we did not catch that whale,
 
Now the losing of seven fine seamen,
It grieved the Captain sore
But the losing of that bloody sperm whale
Oh, it grieved him ten times more,
Brave boys, Oh, it grieved him ten times more,

"Up anchor now," the Captain 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”

Now Greenland is a barren land,
Where our fisher lads have to go
Where the rose and the lily never bloom in spring
And there's only ice and snow.
Brave boys, And there's only ice and snow.