Greenland Whale Fisheries

En 1985, el grupo The Pogues hizo una versión especial de esta canción tradicional que trata de los balleneros irlandeses que embarcaban rumbo a Groenlandia, rememorando especialmente a quienes dejaban sus vidas en aquellas frías aguas del norte.

Esta versión es del grupo que sucedió a The Pogues, Shane MacGowan and The Popes.

[The Pogues' version] In eighteen hundred and forty-six 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; There's a whale, there's 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 you'll put your boats to sea, brave boys And you'll 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. 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. Oh Greenland is a barren land A land that bears no green Where there's ice and snow, and the whalefishes blow And the daylight's seldom seen, brave boys And the daylight's seldom seen.

[Traditional version] 'Twas in eighteen hundred and fifty-three And of June the thirteenth day, That our gallant ship her anchor weighed, And for Greenland bore away, brave boys, And for Greenland bore away. The lookout in the crosstrees stood With spyglass in his hand; There's a whale, there's a whale, there's whalefish he cried And she blows at every span, brave boys She blows at every span. The captain stood on the quarter deck, And a fine little man was he; Overhaul, overhaul! Let your davit tackles fall, And launch your boats for sea, brave boys And launch your boats for sea. Now the boats were launched and the men aboard, And the whale was full in view. Resolved was each seaman bold To steer where the whalefish blew, brave boys To steer where the whalefish blew. We stuck the whale the line paid out, But she gave a flourish with her tail, The boat capsized and four men were drowned, And we never caught that whale, brave boys, And we never caught that whale. To lose the whale, our captain said, It grieves my heart full sore, But oh! to lose (those) four gallant men It grieves me ten times more, brave boys It grieves me ten times more. The winter star doth now appear, So, boys we'll anchor weight; It's time to leave this cold country And homeward bear away, brave boys And homeward bear away. Oh Greenland is a dreadful place A land that's never green Where there's ice and snow, and the whalefishes blow and the daylight's seldom seen brave boys But the daylight's seldom seen.