THE WOUNDED WHALE FAIRPORT CONVENTION Reference Number : 0290 LOW IS THE SUN FROM HER OCEAN BED WAS RISING BROUGHT ON THE WATER A GLITTERING LIGHT THROWS HARK! FROM THE MASTHEAD OUR LOOKOUT'S A-CRYING 'TIS HARD ON THE LEE BEAM, WHALE, THERE SHE BLOWS! ALL UP YOU SLEEPERS, YOU LARB'D AND YOU STARB'D MEN MAIN YARDS ABACK, AND YOUR BOATS CLEAR AWAY, OH HARD ON OUR LEE BEAM, SEE THE WHITE WATER GLEAM GLITTERING AND FOLLOWING, IN GLORIOUS ARRAY SEE THE LEVIATHAN IN VASTNESS A-LYING MAKING THE OCEAN HER SUMPTUOUS BED HIGH OVERHEAD, SEABIRDS ARE FLYING COMBING THE BILLOWS THAT BREAK O'ER HER HEAD EYE WIDE AND SWIMMING, HER DARK FLUKES A-FLYING STATELY BUT SLOWLY SHE SINKS IN THE MAIN MAKE OVER YOUR OARS A-WHILE, REST FROM YOUR WEARY TOIL WATCHING AND WAITING, RISING AGAIN ROW HEARTIES, ROW, FOR THE PRIDE OF YOUR NATION SPRING TO YOUR OARS, LET THE REEKING SWEAT FLOW BOW FOR THE BLOOD, LET IT HAVE CIRCULATION POUR WOOD ON YOUR THWARTS GIVE WAY ALL YOU KNOW SEE HOW THE BOATS ADVANCE, GAILY, AS TO A DANCE FLOATING LIKE FEATHERS O'ER THE DARK BLUE SEA...... STAND UP AND GIVE A SONG, SEND BOTH YOUR IRONS HOME STOOD OFF AND TRIM YOUR BOATS, WE ARE ALL CLEAR.... WOUNDED AND SORE, FINS AND FLUKES ALL IN COMMOTION BLACK SKIN AND OARS CONTENDING THE SPRAY WHILE LOUD AND SHRILL BLOWS THE HORN OF THE OCEAN FRETTING AND LOST, SHE BRINGS TO, IN DISMAY.... HAUL LINE EVERY MAN, AND GATHER IN ALL YOU CAN LANCES AND SPADES, FROM YOUR THWARTS CLEAR AWAY NOW CLICK YOUR OARS AGAIN, WHILE FAST EACH BOAT REMAINS SAFELY AND SURELY, WE HOLD HER AT BAY..... SURROUNDED BY THOSE WITH STRENGTH UNDIMINISHED HEED HOW SHE FLASHES HER DARK FLUKES IN THE AIR THE LANCE IN THE LIFE, AND THE STRUGGLE IS FINISHED SEE HOW SHE SINKS WITH A CHIMNEY ON FIRE SO LOUD AND SHRILL, THE CRIES FROM OUR SEAMEN MOCKING THE WHALE IN HER TERRIBLE HOUR WATCHING HER AS SHE DIES, SEE THE BLUE SIGNAL FLY HERE SHE GOES FIN OUT, AND THE CONTEST IS O'ER.....