Digital Tradition Mirror

The Cold Coast of Greenland

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Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

The Cold Coast of Greenland

1.  Last night I was a-married and on my marriage bed
    There came a bold sea captain and he stood at my bed's head
    Saying, "Arise, arise, you bonny brisk lad and come along with me,
    To the cold, cold coast of Greenland and the sperm whale fishery."

2.  She held her love all in her arms, a-thinking he might stay
    Till the cruel captain came again - he was forced to go away.
    "It's many a bright and bold young man must sail this night with me
    To the cold, cold coast of Greenland and the sperm whale fishery."

3.  Her love he went on shipboard and a lofty ship was she,
    With a score of bold young whalermen to bear him company,
    But the mainmast and the rigging they lie buried in the sea
    Off the cold, cold coast of Greenland in the sperm whale fishery.

4.  Said the father to the daughter, "What makes you so lament?
    There's many a lad in our town can give your heart content."
    "There is no lad in our town, no lord nor duke," said she,
    Can ease my mind now the stormy wind has twined my love from me."

5.  "No shoe nor stocking I'll put on nor comb go in my hair,
    Nor broad daylight nor candlelight shall in my room appear
    Nor shall I wed with any young man until the day I die,
    Now the cold, cold coast of Greenland has parted my love and I."

6.  Oh, Greenland is a dreadful place, a place that's never green,
    It's a wild inhabitation for a lover to be in,
    Where the icebergs grow and the whales do blow and the sunset's never
        seen,
    And the cold, cold coast of Greenland lies between my love and me."

from the singing of Ewan MacColl on "Thar She Blows!",
Riverside RLP 12-635
Child #92
JB
apr97

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!