Folk and Traditional Song Lyrics:
Whalers Tale

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A Whaler's Tale

A Whaler's Tale
(Ken Graydon)

I signed aboard this whaling ship
  I made my mark it's true
And I'll serve out the span of time
  I swore that I would do
But I'll not man your boats again
  Though you cast me in the sea
For I tell you sir, them fish can think
  As well as you or me

Just yesterday the lookout's call
  Had bent us to our work
I took me place like all the rest
  I'd not be one to shirk
Now thirteen men's been drownded
  And no more of them we'll see
I'd take an oath, them fish can think
  As well as you or me

We'd pulled our boats abreast the pod
  The steersman took his stand
He'd had no time to make his throw
  When the oar flew from my hand
Just then a great fluke smashed our boat
  The whale I didn't see
Now I believe them fish can think
  As well as you or me

For then them whales destroyed our boats
  They rammed them one by one
They stove them all with head and fluke
  And after they was done
We few poor souls left half-alive
  Was clinging to debris
I'd stake me life them fish can think
  As good as you and me

The way them whale fish went for us
  It seemed as though t'was planned
For each one had his target boat
  They played us man for man
Just knowin' now they think so clear
  My heart says let them be
I swear to God them fish can think
  As good as you or me

Now John is blind, Jim's lost an arm
  And Caleb's lost below
My leg will heal but other men
  No more aloft can go
So I'll not man your boats again
  Though you drown me in the sea
For I tell you sir, them fish can think
  As good as you or me
AJS
oct97
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