The "Cold Coast of Greenland" is somewhat elusive in terms of written sources. One German website which lists the song on tracks from Thar She Blows provides a link to the lyrics of the "Cold Coast of Iceland"! Close geographically but an unrelated song. The version that Gene Bonyun leads, as transcribed from Songs of Yankee Whaling is two verses shorter than what appears in the DT here:

As sung by Gene Bonyun
Recorded on Songs of Yankee Whaling, American Heritage/Heirloom Records, © 1960
Traditional, related to the "Lowlands of Holland"

The Cold Coast of Greenland

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

I held my love all in my arms, a-thinking he might stay
Till the cruel captain called his men and forced my love away.
Saying "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."

My love he went on shipboard and a lofty ship was she,
With a score of bold young whalermen to bare 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.

Said my father to me, "Daughter, what makes you so lament?
There's many a lad in our town can give your heart content."
"There is no lad in all our town, no lord nor duke for me,
Can ease my mind now the stormy brine has twined my love from me."

Here's a longer version:

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!, © 1956
Riverside RLP 12-635
Child #92 aka "Lowlands of Holland"
JB
apr97

Cheerily,
Charley Noble