DIEGO'S BOLD SHORES
(Forecastle song)

"Sperm-whalers of the south latitudes sang the following song, which was doubtless of shore composition. 'Diego' meant the Diego Ramirez rocks off Cape Horn--in sailor's lingo 'Dago Rammerees,' or simply 'The Rammerees.' (Cf. Masefield's 'Song of Shipwreck.') The air was furnished by Joseph McGinnis, and the words are a combination of his version and that of R. M. Davids." (Colcord)
Did the love of adventure, the promise of gold,
And an ardent desire for to roam,
Ever tempt you away o'er the watery world,
Far away from your kindred and home?
With a storm-beaten captain free-hearted and bold,
And a score of brave fellows or two,
Enured to the hardships of hunger and cold,
A fearless and jovial crew.

Have you ever cruised off Diego's bold shores
That are washed by the Antarctic wave,
Where the snowy-plumed albatross merrily soars
Over many a poor whaler's grave?
Have you ever roamed in the evergreen glades
That are teeming with dainties so rare?
Did you ever make love 'neath the cocoanut shade
To the dark island maids that dwell there?

Did you hear from the mast-head the shout "There she blows,"
See the boats gaily leave the ship's side,
See the mighty fish quiver 'neath the harpooner's blows
As the water with crimson is dyed?
Have you seen the foam fly from the mighty sperm whale
That when boldly attacked in his lair,
With one sweep of his mighty and ponderous tail
Sends the whaleboat so high in the air?

Did you ever join in with a boisterous cheer
Ringing high over Heaven's blue dome
When rich with the spoils you have purchased so dear
You hoisted your topsails, bound home?
And after the voyage, when Columbia's coast
Loomed proudly from out the blue main,
Have you felt that joy that you longed for the most
Of meeting your loved ones again?

~Masato

Mary Katherine

~Masato

~Masato

(Text: log of the Bark Midas, New Bedford, 1861. Tune: Joseph McGinnis)

Has a love of adventure a promise of gold
Or an ardent desire to roam
Ever tempt you far o'er the watery world
Away from your kindred and home
With a storm beaten captain free hearted and bold
And a score of brave fellows or two
Inured to the hardship of hunger and cold
A fearless and jolly good crew

Have you ever stood watch where Diego's bold shore
Looms up from the Antarctic wave
Where the snowy plumed albatross merrily soars
O'er many a mariner's grave
Have you heard the masthead'sman sing out there she blows
Seen the boats gaily leave the ship's side
Or the giant fish breach 'neath the harpooner's blows
Till the blue sea with crimson was died

Have you seen the foam when the mighty right whale
Thus boldly attacked in his lair
With a terrible blow of his ponderous tail
Sent the boat spinning up in the air
Or where the green isles of the evergreen glades
Are teeming with dainties so rare
Have you ever made love neath the coco's green shade
To the sweet sunny maids that dwell there

Let those who delight in the comforts of home
And the joys of a warm fireside
Who dream it a peril the ocean to roam
In the cots of their fathers abide
But not a day nearer we reckon our death
Though daily we sport o'er our graves
Nor sweeter they'll slumber beneath the green sod
Than we in the boisterous waves

Have you ever joined in the boisterous shout
Reaching far through the heaven's blue dome
When rich in the spoils you have purchased so dear
You have hoisted your topsails for home
Or when the dark hills of Columbia arose
From out the blue waves of the main
Have you ever relived the unspeakable joy
Of meeting with loved ones again

Text and tune from Gale Huntington's Songs the Whalemen Sang (1964, reprinted Dover, 1970). Punctuation as quoted. Huntington comments:

"This seems to have been one of the best loved of the traditional whalemen's songs. Joanna Colcord in Songs of American Sailormen has a version very similar to this except that it lacks the fourth stanza. It is her melody that I have used here."

Roud Folk Song Index number 2006.

A midi of the tune as quoted in Huntington will in time find its way to the Mudcat Midi Pages, and can for now be heard via the South Riding Folk Network site:

Diego's Bold Shore (midi)

~Masato