Red Waves

Wind torn sails
and old wives tales
both tell a certain truth
like sailors forlorn
'round the Cape Horn
Drowned or frozen to death

The waves and the wind
punish for sins
that frequently go untold
dare to begin
the voyage to win
bring in the most liquid gold

Whaling was the name
of this sailors game
learned from my Pappy before
when the tall ships call
you'll answer for all
the misgivings you ever did

Swabbing the decks
like a beer hall wench
sickly from waves and decay
this is the life
for months at a time
from New England
to the ports of Biscay

First sign of a blow
shouts to below
from where the watch sits above
the decks come alive
thar be the prize
the deadly game awaits

Set Sails to the wind
and get that boat in
harpoons and crew await
haul on the ropes
or abandon all hopes
the behemoth will get away

Hearts pound like the oars
sending us forth
oh, how our quarry evades
better keep your eyes peeled
or your fate is sealed
if she comes up underneath

With a mighty hurrah
the striker lets fly
the harpoon sinks deep in the whale
it plunges below
taking us under tow
blood staining the dark blue waves

I cry for this sin
as we haul the whale in
and cut up all it had been
trade a shilling in the purse
for a life long curse
never to sleep again

When I shut my eyes
I can still hear the cry
up from the blowhole it came
shivers my spine,every time
I bolt upright awake