THE WHALE CATCHERS
Catch The Greenland Whale
Chase


On the twenty-third of March, my boys
We hoisted our topsail
Crying, "Heav'n above protect us
With a sweet and a pleasant gale."
We never was down-hearted
Nor let our courage fail
But bore away up to Greenland
For to catch the Greenland whale
For to catch the Greenland whale

And when we came to Greenland
Where the bitter winds did blow
We tacked about all in the north
Among the frost and snow
Our finger-tops were frozen off
And likewise our toe-nails
As we crawled on the deck, my boys
Looking out for the Greenland whale
Looking out for the Greenland whale

And when we came to Davis Strait
Where the mountains flowed with snow
We tacked about all in the north
Till we heard the whalefish blow
And when we catch that whale, brave boys
Homeward we will steer
We'll make them valleys ring, my boys
A-drinking of strong beer
We'll make them lofty alehouses
In London town to roar
And when our money is all gone
To Greenland go for more
To Greenland go for more

Roger McGuinn 2001