Lyr Req: Save the Whales (Country Joe McDonald)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Save the Whales (Country Joe McDonald)
From: Bugsy
Date: 05 May 14 - 07:43 PM

I have the double Album "Into The Fray" in front of me and the words are as Jim has posted them.

for the record (excuse the pun)
Country Doe McDonald
Into The Fray
Rag Baby Records
Rag-2001
(c)(p)1981 Rag Baby Records


Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Save the Whales (Country Joe McDonald)
From: Amos
Date: 05 May 14 - 01:59 PM

Several newspapers report the song called "Save the Whales" by Country Joe as starting out with the requested line "if I was a whale in the deep blue sea,". But all the lyrics listing for the song by that title and author produce the lyrics above, which say nothing about being a whale. I am unable, at present, to resolve this contradiction. ANyone know what the story is?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Save the Whales (Country Joe McDonald)
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Apr 11 - 01:48 AM

Try the Album : Paradise with an Ocean View

Subject: Lyr Add: SAVE THE WHALES (Country Joe McDonald)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 May 10 - 06:04 PM

The lyrics to SAVE THE WHALES are now on Joe McDonald's web site. A few words are different from those posted above, so I'll post it again with the changed words in boldface. (I suspect Joe himself updated the lyrics sometime after he first recorded it.)


SAVE THE WHALES
Words and music by Joe McDonald
Copyright © 1975 Alkatraz Corner Music Co BMI.

When my grandpa was a boy, he went down to the general store,
Saw a picture book of a whale shooting its spout and flashin' its tail.
Then he got a sailor's dream 'bout cruisin' around on the salty sea,
Joinin' up with a fishin' crew to go out and get him a whale or two.
Tell me, what kind of men are these who sail upon the salty seas,
Up in the rigging in the afternoon, swabbin' the decks and sharpenin' harpoons?

CHORUS: Hooray and up she rises.
Hooray and up she rises.
Hooray and up she rises,
Early in the morning. REPEAT CHORUS

Shanghaied by the light of the moon, put out from Boston in the middle of June,
After six months out at sea, it's nothin' but death and misery.
Set out on a three-year cruise, a union ship and a union crew,
And after six months you begin to see, that whalin's not what it used to be.
A modern ship and a modern crew with sonar scopes and explodin' harpoons,
A mechanical boat made out o' steel, a floating machine built to kill the whales.

CHORUS TWICE

There're lots of whales in the deep blue sea. we kill them for the company.
We drag 'em 'longside and chop 'em in two and melt 'em down and sell 'em to you.
There hardly is a sailor alive who can keep the tears from his eyes
As he remembers the good old days when there were no whales to save.
Thank the Russians and Japanese for scouring the deep blue seas,
Looking for ivory and perfume and plastic toys and pet food.

CHORUS TWICE

REPEAT FIRST VERSE AND CHORUS


[Recorded by Country Joe & the Fish on their album "Turned Up and Turned On." It's also on several solo albums by Country Joe McDonald: "Bread & Roses Festival 1977," "Into the Fray," "Classics," "Paradise with an Ocean View," and "Twenty Years After: The Woodstock Reunion Concert." Danny Doyle, an Irish musician, also recorded it on "Folk Masters Ensemble."]

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Whale song lyrics
From: BDenz
Date: 05 Jan 00 - 07:35 PM

Thanks, Stewie! Just ordered Classics, tho the Bread and Roses also looks tempting. Been awhile since I've heard it -- used to own the record a LONG time ago.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Whale song lyrics
From: Stewie
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 05:26 PM

Joe, it's on Various Artists 'Bread and Roses Vol 1' Fantasy which is now available on CD. It's also on Country Joe McDonald 'Classics' also on Fantasy. CDNOW has both available.

Cheers, Stewie.

Subject: ADD: Save the Whales (Country Joe McDonald)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 05:08 PM

Aw, I think it's worth posting the lyrics here. Interestingly, it's not on country Joe's own Website, http://www.countryjoe.com/
Anybody know where we might find a recording of this song?
-Joe Offer-

SAVE THE WHALES
(Country Joe McDonald)

   Am			       G
  When my grandpa was a boy, he went down to the general store
   Am			     G                                      Am
  Saw a picture book of whales, shooting their spouts and flashing their tails
   Am			             G
  Then he got a sailor's dream about cruisin' around on the salty sea
   Am			      G                                 Am
  Joined up with a fishin' crew to go out and get him a whale or two
    Am                                                            G
  Tell me what kind of men are these who sail upon the salty seas
    Am                           G       		        	         Am
  Up in the riggin' in the afternoon, swabbin' the decks and sharpening harpoons
  
  CHORUS:
   Am
  Hooray and up she rises
   G
  Hooray and up she rises
   Am
  Hooray and up she rises
   G                    Am
  Early in the morning
  

There's lots of whales in the deep blue sea and we kill them for the industry
We drag'em along side and cut'em in two and melt'em down and sell it to you
There hardly is a sailor alive who can keep the tears from his eyes
As he remembers the good old days, when there were no whales to save
Now we can thank the companies for scouring the deep blue seas
Looking for ivory and perfume and oil to light your living room

CHORUS

Shanghaied by the light of the moon, put up in Boston in the middle of June
After six months I left the sea, nothing but death and misery
Set out on a 3 year cruise, a union ship and a union crew
After six months you begin to see, whaling's not what it used to be
A modern ship and a modern crew with sonar scopes and exploding harpoons
A mechanical boat made out of steel and a floating machine gun to kill the whale

CHORUS

Repeat first verse

CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Whale song lyrics
From: BDenz
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 02:38 PM

Country Joe! Who'd'a thunk that?

Thanks.

Will also look at Nantucket Sleigh Ride.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Whale song lyrics
From: IceWolf
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 09:55 AM

Different song but similar subject: "Nantucket Sleigh Ride" by Graham Leathers.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Whale song lyrics
From: Ted from Australia
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 09:27 AM

Go here and in case this blue clicky dosn't work http://home.renegadeolga.com/main/c/country_joe_and_the_fish/save_the_whales.crd
regards Ted

Subject: Whale song lyrics
From: BDenz
Date: 13 Dec 99 - 04:31 PM

The song starts "When my grandfather was a boy, he went down to the country [alt: company] store, got him a picture book of whales, shootin' their spouts and flashing their tales." Goes on from there to describe the old days of whaling versus the process today. Chorus includes the "Weigh, hey, and up she rises" of Early in the morning, but it's not that. Help, please.