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The Coast of Peru

from Traces by Chris Foster

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about

A graphic description of a life and death confrontation between a group of men and a sperm whale. I learnt this from Bert Lloyd.

lyrics

Come all you young fellows that’s bound after sperm.
Come all you bold seamen that has rounded the Horn.
Our Captain have told us and we hope he say true,
that there’s plenty of sperm whale on the coast of Peru.

Well we weathered the Horn and we are now off of Peru
and we’re all of one mind to endeavour to do.
Our boats they’re all ready and the masthead is all manned.
Our rigging rove light my boys and the signal’s all planned.

Well ‘twas early one morning, we heard the brave shout.
As the man in the lookout cries out “There she spout.”
“Where away” says our Captain “and where do she lay?”
“Two points to our lee bow, scarce a mile away.”

“Well it’s call up all hands my boys and be of a good cheer.
Put your tubs in your boats and have your bowlines all clear.
Sway up on them ropes. Now jump in my brave crew.
Lower away now and after her. Try the best you can do.”

Well the waist boat run down and of course got the start.
“Lay on” says the harpooner “for I am hell for the long dart.
Now bend on them oars boys and make your boat fly,
But one thing we dread of, keep clear of his eye.”

Well the first iron struck and the whale he went down,
but as he come up again our Captain he bent on.
And the next harpoon struck and the line sped away,
but one thing that whale done, he give us fair play.

Well he raced and he sounded and he twist and he spin,
but we fought him alongside and we got our lance in,
which caused him to vomit and the blood for to spout
and in ten minutes time my boys he’d rolled both fins out.

And then we hauled him alongside with many a shout
and we soon cut him and begun to try out.
Now the blubber is rendered and likewise stowed down
and it’s better to us my boys than five hundred pound.

And now we’re bound into Tumbez in our manly power.
Where a man buys a whore house for a barrel of flour.
And we will spend all our money on them Spanish girls ashore
and when it’s all gone my boys, we’ll go whaling for more…and more.

credits

from Traces, track released January 1, 1999
Chris Foster - vocal and guitar.

Arranged and produced by Chris Foster. Recorded by Ken Macpherson at Track Station Recording, Burton upon Trent.

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Chris Foster Reykjavik, Iceland

Chris Foster grew up in the south west of England. A master of his trade, he was recently described as “one of the finest singers and most inventive guitar accompanists of English folk songs, meriting legend status.” Over the past 40 years, he has toured throughout the UK, Europe, Canada and the USA. He has recorded six solo albums as well as working on many collaborative projects. ... more

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