Greenland Whale Fisheries Lyrics - Red Roses For Me - Pogues

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