 (The Pogues' Version)------------------------------------------
In eighteen hundred and forty-sixAnd of March the eighteenth day,We hoisted our colors to the top of the mastAnd for Greenland sailed away, brave boys,And for Greenland sailed away.
The lookout in the crosstrees stoodWith spyglass in his hand;There's a whale, there's a whale,And a whalefish he criedAnd she blows at every span, brave boysShe 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 boysAnd 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 whalefishNow it grieved him ten times more, brave boysNow it grieved him ten times more.
Oh Greenland is a barren landA land that bares no greenWhere there's ice and snow, and the whalefishes blowAnd the daylight's seldom seen, brave boysAnd the daylight's seldom seen.
(Greenland Fisheries)------------------------------------------------
'Twas in eighteen hundred and fifty-threeAnd 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 stoodWith spyglass in his hand;There's a whale, there's a whale,there's whalefish he criedAnd she blows at every span, brave boysShe blows at every span.
The captain stood on the quarter deck,And a fine little man was he;Overhaul, overhaul! Let your davit tackles fall,And launch your boats for sea, brave boysAnd 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 boldTo steer where the whalefish blew, brave boysTo 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 menIt grieves me ten times more, brave boysIt grieves me ten times more.
The winter star doth now appear,So, boys we'll anchor weight;It's time to leave this cold countryAnd homeward bear away, brave boysAnd homeward bear away.
Oh Greenland is a dreadful placeA land that's never greenWhere there's ice and snow, and the whalefishes blowand the daylight's seldom seen brave boysBut the daylight's seldom seen.
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