In eighteen hundred and forty-six
On March the eighteenth day
We hoisted our colors to the top of the mast
And for Greenland sailed away, brave boys
And for Greenland sailed away
The lookout in the cross trees stood
With spygla** in his hand
There's a whale, there's a whale
And a whale fish 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 gib sheets fall
And you'll put your boats to sea, brave boys
And 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 whale fish
Now it grieved him ten times more, brave boys
Now it grieved him ten times more
Now Greenland is a barren land
A land that bares no green
Where there's ice and snow
And the whale fishes blow
And the daylight's seldom seen, brave boys
And the daylight's seldom seen