In 1846 and of 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 crosstrees he stood
With spyglass in his hand
Theres a whale, theres 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 quarterdeck
The ice was in his eye
Overhaul, overhaul, let your gibsheets fall
And youll put your boats to sea, brave boys
And youll put your boats to sea
The 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 that whale, brave boys
And we did not catch that whale, whoa!
The losing of those five jolly men
It grieved the 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
And Greenland is a barren land
A land that bears no green
Where theres ice and snow, and the whalefishes blow
And the daylights seldom seen, brave boys
And the daylights seldom seen