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 spyglass 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