Greenland Whale Fisheries
The Pogues
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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 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 She blows at every span. The captain stood on the quarter deck, 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. Our 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 the whale, brave boys, And we did not catch the 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 bares 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.
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Written by: TRADITIONAL, FRED HELLERMAN
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
8 facts about this song
OriginThe "Greenland Whale Fisheries" is a traditional sea shanty that dates back to the 19th century, often attributed to the whaling industry around Greenland during that time.
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Peter, Paul, and Mary VersionPeter, Paul, and Mary, an American folk group, covered the song "Greenland Whale Fisheries" and incorporated it into their performance repertoire.
-Their version of the song is acoustic and heavily reliant on the three-part harmony that the group was known for.
-The rendition by Peter, Paul, and Mary brings a folksy, grounded feel to the sea shanty, adding an air of melancholy and quiet determination to the tale.
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The Pogues' VersionThe Pogues, an Irish punk band known for their blend of traditional Irish music with punk, also covered "Greenland Whale Fisheries."
-Their version is far more raucous and lively, with electric instruments and a faster tempo.
-The Pogues' rendition adds a sense of urgency and danger to the song, by incorporating sounds of howling winds and roaring seas at the beginning and end.
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Subject and Theme"Greenland Whale Fisheries" tells the story of a tragic whaling expedition, where a boat and crew are lost to the sea in pursuit of a large whale.
-The underlining theme of the song is the danger and hardship faced by those living at sea, as well as the tragic implications of commercial whale hunting.
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Popularity and InfluenceThe popularity of "Greenland Whale Fisheries" has led to its adaptation by various artists of different genres over the years.
-The song is often used as an example of traditional sea shanties in music history classes, due to its themes, structure, and use of traditional seafaring melodies.
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ImpactThe song's grim tale has been interpreted as a criticism of the whaling industry and the damage it can do to human lives and the environment, making it relevant in light of modern day debates about whaling and other forms of industrial fishing.
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Different InterpretationsWhile the tragic tale remains consistent across versions, the narrative perspective can shift. Some versions focus more on the perspective of the doomed whalers, while others place more emphasis on the whale as the main "character" of the tale.
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SymbolismThe song has also been interpreted as a metaphor for social and economic tranformation associated with industrialization and capitalist expansion during the 19th century.
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Citation
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"Greenland Whale Fisheries Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 5 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/29006241/The+Pogues/Greenland+Whale+Fisheries>.
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