The Longest Johns - Greenland Whale Fisheries Lyrics

In 1856, on June, the thirteenth day
We hoisted our colors 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

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, 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

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

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