The boatswain* on a mast so high
With a spy-glass in his hand;
“ Thar a Whale! Thar’s a Whale!
Thar’s a Whaley Fish!” he cried;
Thar she blows off the larboard* stand, brave boys;
Thar she blows of the larboard stand.

The Captain on the quarter deck,
Such a brave young man was he:
“ Overhaul! Overhaul!*
Let your davit take a fall.
And low’r your boats at sea, brave boys,
And low’r your boats at sea.”

The boats being lowered and the crew got in.
The whale disappeared from view.
“ Resolute! Resolute!”* to the whole boat’s crew.
“ And steer to where the Whale Fish blew, brave boys.
And steer to where the Whale Fish blew.”

The Whale being struck and the line played out.
The fish gave a blow with his tail.
He capsized the boat and they lost six men;
“ But neither did you kill that whale, brave boys,
But neither did you kill that Whale.”

Oh, Greenland is and ice place.
There’s never grass nor green.
Where ice and snow are always there
And daylight seldom seen, brave boys,
And daylight’s seldom seen.