Folk and Traditional Song Lyrics:
Whale

The Whale

The Whale
(Terry Fielding and Fred Dyer)

(Am) (G) (Am)
Di Di Di Di DA Di DE Di Di

(Am) They sailed from port one morning the (G) weather it was (Am) fair
A gentle breeze it pushed them and (G) no one gave a (Am) care
They sang and danced and (Am7) laughed that night and D opened up a (E) keg
They're (Am) out to catch the monster whale that (G) took the captain's
(Am) Di Di Di Di Da (G) Di DE Di (Am)Di

(Am)The Captain said "a piece of gold for (G)him who sees me (Am)whale"
So bend your backs and row me boys I(G) know that we won't (Am)fail
Chorus (chords as Verse1)
So bend your backs and row me lads and take me to me whale.
Tonite we'll sing and dance and tomorrow nite we'll sail.
We'll sail into the harbour no prouder man ther'll be;
We'll show them all we captured the monster from the...
Di Di Di Di Di Da Di Di

They saw the whale one morning the weather it was fair
the men were white as ghosts, the Captain didn't care
I'll take this whale meself he cried the weak can stay behind
The strong can share my glory and tonicht they'll share my..
Di Di Di Di Di Da Di Di

The whale it came so close it was bigger than the sky
they lowered down the longboat and they heard the captain cry
Chorus
Bend your backs and row me lads and take me to me whale.
Tonite we'll sing and dance and tomorrow nite we'll sail.
We'll sail into the harbour no prouder man ther'll be;
We'll show them all we captured the monster from the...
Di Di Di Di Di Da Di Di

Chorus
The whale it came so close it almost tipped the boat
The captain took his spear and he rammed it down it's throat
the whale it gave a mournfull cry and tifted it's great tail a
and brought it down a crushing their small boat like a gale

(spoken) Now 100 years have passed since the Captain and his men
went down to spend their days in Davy Joneses' den
The whale it goes on living but inside it bears a scar
And if your ever neat that place a voice calls from afar

Chorus twice, last line:
We'll show them all we captured the monster from the sea

I just got the definitive reply on this song from Russ Hannah - universal organi
ser/stage manager/folk club doer from the Illawarra Region (south of Sydney):

"The Whale was written by Terry Fielding and Fred Dyer and produced as a single
in 1972 when it reached the top five (It could have been on top in some charts)
in the national charts. It was followed by another single called The Ghost. Terr
y Fielding in fact did live in the Illawarra (I think at Corrimal).

... In 1992 (maybe ~3) EMI produced their first album (on Axis) called Fielding
and Dyer #7243 8 14786 2 2. Terry appeared at Jamberoo [the Illawarra Folk Festi
val] a few years ago and I have not seen him since. Fred's whereabouts I do not
know ... "

My other enquiries with friends in working folk groups indicates that the song r
emains a (local, at least) standard with groups ranging from Folk to Rock - almo
st as much of a hardy perennial as Running Bear! BB

TB