"Greenland Whale Fisheries" lyrics

In eighteen hundred and forty-six
On March the eighteenth day
We hoisted our colours to the top of the mast
And for Greenland sailed away, brave boys
And for Greenland sailed away

The lookout in the crosstrees had 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
And she blows at every span"

The captain stood on the quarter deck
The ice was in his eye
“Overhaul, overhaul, let your jib sheets fall
And you'll put your boats to sea, brave boys
And you'll put your boats to sea”

The harpoon struck and the line played out
With a single flourish of his tail
He capsized our 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 our 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 bears 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