Blow Ye Winds In The Morning
(a.k.a. "Boston, All Come Ye", "Boston,
Come-Ye-All" & "Blow, Boys, Blow)"
Words & Music:
Traditional(?)
Chords courtesy of www.sailorsongs.com. There are subtle variations to the
words with every version I see & hear. Here is one of them.
The "Boston Come-Ye-All" version is supposed to substitute
"Come all you bold Americans, a-whalin' for to go." for the second
line of verse one. This song tells
a truer tale of antebellum newbie seafaring life than most bowdlerized tales do.
G
'Tis advertised in Boston, New York, and Buffalo:
C
G
D
"Five hundred brave Americans a-whalin' for to go."
CHORUS:
G
Singing, "Blow ye winds in the morning, blow ye winds,
high-ho!
C
G
D G
Clear away your runnin' gear and blow, boys, blow!"
[alt: "And blow, ye winds high-ho!"]
They send you to New Bedford, that famous whaling port,
And give you to some land sharks to board and fit you out.
CHORUS:
They send you to a boardin' house, there for a time to dwell;
The thieves there they are thicker than the other side of
Hell.
CHORUS:
They tell you of the clipper ships a-runnin' in and out,
And say you'll take five hundred sperm before you're six
months out.
CHORUS:
It's now we're out to sea, me boys, the wind comes on to
blow;
One-half the watch is sick on deck, the other half below.
CHORUS:
But, as for provisions, we donÕt get half enough.
A little piece of stinking beef and a blamed small bag of
duff.
CHORUS:
Next, comes the running rigging which youÕre all supposed to
know.
Lay aloft, you son of a gun, or overboard youÕll go.
CHORUS:
The skipper's on the quarterdeck a-squintin' at the sails,
When up aloft the lookout spots a mighty school of whales.
CHORUS:
Now, clear away the boats, me boys, and after him we'll
travel,
But if you get too near his fluke, he'll kick you to the
Devil.
CHORUS:
Now, we've got the whale turned up, me boys, we'll bring 'im
alongside,
Then over with our blubber-hooks and rob him of his hide.
CHORUS:
Now, comes the stowing down, my boy, 'twill take both night
and day.
You'll all get two bits after six months to the day.
CHORUS:
When we get home, our ship made fast, when we get through our
sailin',
A brimming glass around we'll pass, and damn this blubber
whalin'.
CHORUS: