Greenland Whale Fisheries

Lyrics

[Verse 1] In 1856, on June the thirteenth day We hoisted our colours to the top of the mast And for Greenland bore away Brave boys, for Greenland bore away Well, the lookout on the crosstrees stood, a spyglass in his hand "There's a whale, there's a whale, there's a whalefish!" he cried "And she blows at every span!" Brave boys, she blows at every span [Chorus] For Greenland is a hell of a place It's a place that's never green Where there's ice and there's snow and the whalefishes blow And the daylight's seldom seen, brave boys The daylight's seldom seen [Verse 2] Our Captain stood on the quarterdeck A gallant man was he "Overhaul, overhaul, let your davit tackles fall And we launch our boats to sea." Brave boys, we launch our boats to sea Well, the harpoon struck and the line paid out But she gave a flourish with her tail And the boat capsized and we lost seven men And we ne'er did catch that whale Brave boys, we ne'er did catch that whale [Chorus] For Greenland is a hell of a place It's a place that's never green Where there's ice and there's snow and the whalefishes blow And the daylight's seldom seen, brave boys The daylight's seldom seen [Verse 3] Well the losing of those seven brave men It grieved the captain sore But the losing of that bloody great whale It grieved him ten times more Brave boys, it grieved him ten times more [Chorus] For Greenland is a hell of a place It's a place that's never green Where there's ice and there's snow and the whalefishes blow And the daylight's seldom seen For Greenland is a hell of a place It's a place that's never green Where there's ice and there's snow and the whalefishes blow And the daylight's seldom seen, brave boys The daylight's seldom seen