I completed this song last year. It has been sung out but not extensively. I hope you like it.

HAUL ON THE SAIL
^^
CHORUS
HAUL ON THE SAIL, BOYS,
HAUL ON THE SAIL
THERE'S A FAST TIDE FLOWING AND THE WIND IS BLOWING FREE
HAUL ON THE SAIL, BOYS,
HAUL ON THE SAIL
TILL WE'RE SAFELY ANCHORED, IN OLD WHITBY

WHEN I SIGNED ON A WHALER, A YOUNG AND FOOLISH LAD
I THOUGHT T'WOULD MAKE A MAN OF ME, WITH CASH I'D NEVER HAD
BUT TWO YEARS ON I KNOW FOR SURE, I'M FINISHED WITH THE SEA
AND LONG TO BE BACK HOME AGAIN , IN OLD WHITBY

FIRST WE MADE FOR GREENLAND, AND SAILED THE SEAS AROUND
THOUGH WE SEARCHED FOR MONTHS ON END - ONE WHALE WAS ALL WE FOUND
SO CAPTAIN SAID, FORGET THE WHALES, AND SEALS WE HAD TO TAKE
WE SLAUGHTERED NEAR ONE THOUSAND THEN, OUR LIVING FOR TO MAKE

I HATE THE ARCTICS STORMY SEAS, THE ICEBERGS AND THE FLOES
I HATE THE STINKING QUARTERS THAT WE LIVE IN DOWN BELOW
BUT MOST OF ALL THE SLAUGHTER - THE ENDLESS BLOOD AND GORE
I HATE IT ALL AND LONG TO BE IN WHITBY TOWN ONCE MORE

I LONG TO SEE THE GREEN, GREEN, GRASS AND WALK THE HEATHER MOOR
AND LISTEN TO THE WATER AS THE WAVELETS LAP THE SHORE
NO MORE I'LL GO TO FROZEN LANDS WITH BLINDING ICE AND SNOW
BUT I'LL STAY WARM IN WHITBY TOWN, WITH ALL THE FRIENDS I KNOW

SO WHEN MY FEET ARE ON DRY LAND, AND THE SHIP'S TIED TO THE QUAY
I'LL TURN MY BACK AND MAKE MY WAY HOMEWARD FROM THE SEA
THANK GOD, I AM A SINGLE MAN NO COMPANY DEBT I OWE
SO MANY MEN MUST SIGN AGAIN AND BACK TO SEA THEY GO.

HAZEL BOLTON SEPT 2006