‘John Dead’
Chorus:
John dead
Grey goose gone home
And the fox in the way of the morning…

Who’ll dig his grave?/ [Chorus]/
Who’ll make his shroud?/ [Chorus]/
Who’ll lower him down?/ [Chorus]/
Who’ll toll his bell?/ [Chorus]/

‘John Dead’ is a traditional song from the Windward Islands in the West Indies. It was a call to reluctant whalers (like scared “geese)” to come out and face the whale - the “fox” - when the waves are whipped into a hurricane frenzy.

Tim Radford