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Greenland Whale Fishery 
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Greenland Whale Fishery 
No longer we will stay on shore since we are so deep in debt And a voyage to Greenland we will go Some money for to make, brave boys, some money for to make. 
It was the year of eighteen five and March the twentieth day When our gallant ship from her anchor swayed To the seas she bore away, brave boys, to the seas she bore away. 
It's Bollard was our captain's name and our ship the Lion bold We're away to some far north cold country Where the snow forever lies, brave boys, where the snow forever lies 
When we did arrive in this far country where the snow for ever lies Where the hail, wind and snow, and the big whales blow And the daylight never dies, brave boys, and the daylight never dies 
Our mate was up in the crow's nest high with a spy glass in his hand "Oh a whale, oh a whale, oh a whale fish," he cried "And he blows at every span, brave boys, and he blows at every span" 
Our captain on the deck did run and a clever little man was he "Overhaul, ovehaul, from the davits let them fall And lower your boats to the sea, brave boys, and lower your boats to the sea" 
The boats being launched and the lines paid out and every boat her crew There have orders been given to all steersmen To steer where the whale fish blew, brave boys, to steer where the whale fish
 blew. 
Oh we steered east and we steered west and it's all to catch the whale But he capsized our boats and we lost five men Nor did we catch the whale, brave boys, nor did we catch the whale 
When this sad news to our captain came, he called up his old ship's crew For the losing of his five 'prentice boys He down his colors drew, brave boys, he down his colors drew. 
Alas, alas, don't be dismayed for the losing of five men 
For Providence will have its own way Let a man do all that he can, brave boys, let a man do all that he can. 
Printed in Patrick Shuldham-Shaw and Emily B. Lyle, The Greig-Duncan Folk
 Song Collection, vol 1., version A. Laws K21 DT #321