if&when - The Whaler Lyrics

A warning to those who would sail the seas
If it's whale that you're after, listen carefully
Some say he's a ghost, some say he's make believe
But there's no doubt in the trail that he leaves

They say from a young age, the sea was his home
Aboard a whaling vessel, not unlike your own
'Til one fateful night, something attacked from below
And from that sinking ship, escaped he alone

From the deep, the beast did rise
'Twas a whale of enormous size
And the last he could recall, it swallowed him whole
He awoke, safe on the shore

Now, surely you have heard, the talk in the town
Once in a moon now, a ship runs aground
Some choose to believe that in a storm, they've all drowned
But no crew is ever found

One by one, they go to their resting place below
He looks each in the eye, shoves a spear in their side
And sends them to their salty sleep

There's no way to tell where he is today
No one knows his name, no one knows his face
He could be anywhere, he could be any old place
Planning who next he'll erase

Don't think that you can outswim
If you're one on his list, there's no escaping him
Don't think that he won't come for you
He's already on your ship, yes he's one of your crew
He's looked you in the eye, seen how you will die
And he can't wait to see it again