In eighteen hundred and fifty-six
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 spy-glass 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, and she blows at every span!)
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
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, and we ne'er did catch that whale)
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
Now 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)
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
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
