Thanks for the clarification on authorship, Mike. This book is printed in a number of sources, but it's never quite clear who wrote it (even in 101 Plus 5 Folk Songs for Camp. If you could stop by at this thread about you (click) and tell us which songs you've written and how to request permission for recording, that would be very helpful.
-Joe Offer, Mudcat Music Editor, joe@mudcat.org -

Here are the lyrics and melody for the song in 101 Plus 5 Folk Songs for Camp. It's almost the same as what Julia L posted above in 2015

THE BOOTHBAY WHALE
(Mike Cohen)

It was way up north in Boothbay Harbor
Where the water's always cold,
The fisher folk are a clever lot,
Or so I have been told.

CHORUS:
Blow hi for his big black head,
Blow low for his big black tail,
Now step right up and take a little swig
And you'll soon see a Boothbay whale.

They catch their pollack, cod and Cusk
By the mouth, the fin or the tail.
One day they got a heck of a jolt,
When into the Bay swam a whale.

Says Captin Pete, "I've harpooned tuna,
And caught them with my rig,
But I ain't gettin' near no eighty-foot whale,
That fish is too darned big!"

Well, Skipper Jake was a ready man,
Though he had a wooden leg.
Says he, "I think I'll catch that whale;
Let me have that old rum keg."

Well, he stood on the bow of the Nancy U,
And followed that whale for a ride,
And when that whale she surfaced and blowed,
He steered her to starboard side.

The whale blowed steam from his big spout hole
While Jake took a slug from his keg;
And before he could dive, Jake jumped on his back
Hangin' on with his one good leg.

Well, Jake took his keg and used it like a plug,
Pushed it tight in the old whale's spout.
He kicked it hard, then jumped on board,
Sayin', "Boys, it will never come out."

Well, the whale he blew, he puffed, he heaved,
And the boys all gave a shout;
And the very next time he 'rose to blow
He blew his brains right out.

You bold seafarin' whalermen, You've wasted all these years,
With race boats, harpoons, ropes and hooks, And all that other gear.
All you need is a big old plug Next time you see him spout,
Just kick it in, sit back and rest, While he blows his brains right out.

If you ever meet a fisherman from Boothbay, Maine,
And you want to hear a dreadful tale,
Well, step right up and offer him a keg,
And learn how to catch a Boothbay whale.

Source: 101 plus 5 Folk Songs for Camp (pp 144-145)
compiled and edited with notes by Mike Cohen, Oak Publications, 1966

Notes: This is the only song in this collection, I believe, which hasn’t been sung at camp. It originated when our New England Travel Camp was fishing at Boothbay Harbor, Maine. We were watching a fishing boat come in which had just harpooned a 625-pound tuna (the fresh tuna steaks were delicious).
We asked the Skipper if he had ever harpooned whales or seen any around Boothbay. He said he had his own method of catching whales and upon hearing his method, I felt it worthy of a song. It was certainly similar to the stories told in folk songs. Whether this song is folk is doubtful whether it should be included here is questionable; but anyhow, here it is.

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Click to play (joeweb)