One more thing. I went back to Deep the Water today to look up the song. The several pages before it give a fascinating, frightening and detailed account of going after whale (Blackfish) in just a long boat with 6 men. Couple of small details in the account:

The "All through the rain & squally weather" words are sung while rowing out after the whale but the "Solid fas'" words (still the same tune) are sung "after a long rowin' or coming home late at night and we must pull hard." The source explains that "Solid fas'" is said when you strike the "fish." Usually by the captain but maybe by the bowman first.

Sometimes they went after sperm whale which is incredible to me in a 22-26 foot rowboat. Many times one of these would attack the boat & sometimes sink it. The men would have to swim home. In open ocean! These were (are) tough men.