Sperm Whale Song

Out of New Bedford, twenty-one years on the good ship Columbine (Hey)
For the sea below's green on the Argentine when the bosun supplies the line (Hey)
Oh, around the Horn our Will attacks with a crew of Bedford men (Hey)
McGee and me and the first mate's three and dirty Boston Ben

Oh, it's all hands tug and blow, lads, blow
When you hunt for the horrible sperm

Oh, it's up me mates as the lookout shouts and the topsail mizzen fast (Hey)
And the capstan spins on the forecastle poop at we sighted whale at last (Hey)
Then it's pre-char boats in the ocean, boy while the oarlocks whistle and boom (Hey)
And Indian Joe in the spit of the bow let's it fly with his lampoon

Oh, it's all hands tug and blow, lads, blow
When you hunt for the horrible sperm

And the whale she dives like a devil into hell and away goes the singing line (Hey)
And Boston Ben took a flounder off the flukes and he drowned in the salty brine (Brave lad)
And he drowned in the salty brine (Brave)
Now there's one less oil fish in the sea and the good ship safe and sound (Hey)
And the oil's on to boil in the belly of the hold and we're bound for Bedford town (Hey)

Oh, it's all hands tug and blow, lads, blow
When you hunt for the horrible sperm
(Hum)