Origins: Trying to remember a song

Subject: Origins: Trying to remember a song
From: GUEST,Miller
Date: 18 Jun 24 - 03:51 AM

Hi all,

I have a vague memory of a song which I'm hoping you can help me find. It was something about a whaling ship or sealer going to Greenland if memory serves, which gets caught in ice and the captain, once the ship is freed, decides to stay to get more oil, even though his wife is driven crazy. I think the crew mutiny. Despite some keyword searches I cant find it.

Apologies if this is not the correct place for this query but I've never used this site before, and thank you in advance.

Subject: RE: Origins: Trying to remember a song
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Jun 24 - 05:25 AM

Sadly, I have no information about this song, but sounds like a story from the genre of "escaping the lions’ den, then making the mistake of going back for one's hat".
I can't recall too many occurrences of this in traditional songs, but would be interested in other examples.There must be more....

Apologies for the thread drift; perhaps I should start a new topic? Or maybe get a life :-)

Subject: RE: Origins: Trying to remember a song
From: GUEST,Miller
Date: 18 Jun 24 - 06:55 AM

I have found it!

Its called John Cook and there is good recording by Schooner Fare attached (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIy4CPrdPqI). Would be interested to find out some more about the history of the piece if anyone knows anything about it.

Cheers.

Subject: Lyr Add: John Cook
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 18 Jun 24 - 07:36 AM

From a quick search, first released in 1981, 'John Cook' was written by Dave Rowe of Portland Maine. Details here: https://www.reverbnation.com/daverowe/song/1142313-john-cook


JOHN COOK
by Tom Rowe

        Oh, John Cook, ye have taken us to hell;
        Locked up in the ice off Baffin Island.
        We've been here for a year, now the water's comin' clear;
        Won't you set for home, John Cook, without the oil?

We sailed her out from Gloucester, to hunt the mighty whale;
A crew of twenty seasoned whalin' men.
With Slocum at the helm and me and Drury haulin' sail,
And the Captain shouting orders at the wind.

The Captain's wife had begged to go and Cook could not deny her;
For Annie Cook was sweet and young and fair.
She's been this last year down below, a'huddled near the fire;
The whaler's lot was more than she could bear.

        Chorus

With one year gone and one to go we'd less than half the oil;
Four hundred barrels filled and in the hold.
The Captain turned her north'ard where he knew we'd find the whale
But instead of whales we found the bitter cold.

The Atlantic Queen did shudder as she braved the ocean gales;
But her master would not heed the mate's advice:
Oh, Captain, turn her south'ard and damn the hellish whale;
For if you don't we'll soon be trapped in ice.

        Chorus

Soon the ice stretched all around the proud Atlantic Queen;
And nine months gone the food began to spoil.
The Captain paced the foredeck, tortured, torn between,
His love for Ann and lusting for the oil.

For Annie Cook had begged her John to take her home to Gloucester,
Or sure it was she'd lose her sanity.
And the crew of the Atlantic Queen had charged her lord and master
To point her south or face a mutiny.

        Chorus

The Captain made his choice, he'd not return without the oil.
His pride was more important than his wife.
And when there came the mutiny he shot the Steward Boyle;
To take the Queen they'd have to take his life.

Two more weeks, the ice cleared north, we set out the whales to find;
We took three beasts before the second day.
Michael Boyle had lost his life and Annie Cook had lost her mind,
And the Captain's coal black hair had gone to gray.

        Chorus

Subject: RE: Origins: Trying to remember a song
From: GUEST,Miller
Date: 18 Jun 24 - 05:30 PM

Thank you very much Nigel.

Subject: RE: Origins: Trying to remember a song
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 18 Jun 24 - 08:01 PM

2004 mudcat thread
Lyr Req: Schooner Fare: John Cook
mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=69957

lyrics & guitar
https://pt.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/schooner-fare/john-cook-chords-4038124