Nantucket

I come from an island, an islander's ways

Breakers and Quakers and few of us stray

Hunting the oceans with men that won't tire

Nantucket sleigh rides and chimneys afire

Some may be wary and won't understand

Trading a spear for a flag in the hand

A jetsam that rides 'pon some shipping out east

Out to go hunting a different beast

Fire flies from the long nines

Shot-handlers run about

The captain says we'll holler

As though there was some doubt

And as we blow on the matches

And brace to take the shock

My mind is in Nantucket

Hauling whale meat into dock

I'm not used to bracing in weather so calm

Still making cheer when I hear the alarm

As iron and fire knock nails from the stern

The shores are no longer my biggest concern

Our skipper is canny, a droll kind of soul

He never sulked and he's still cracking jokes

Ah, Mr Starbuck, your aim is quite rare

Well, I aim to sink her beyond disrepair

Fire flies from the long nines

Shot-handlers run about

The captain says we'll holler

As though there was some doubt

And as we blow on the matches

And brace to take the shock

My mind is in Nantucket

Hauling whale meat into dock

History favours the bold and the brave

Conquer the mountains and weather the waves

Now I'm away with all liberty's sons

Off down the channel to stand by the guns

Fire flies from the long nines

Shot-handlers run about

The captain says we'll holler

As though there was some doubt

And as we blow on the matches

And brace to take the shock

My mind is in Nantucket

Hauling whale meat into dock

Fire flies from the long nines

Shot-handlers run about

The captain says we'll holler

As though there was some doubt

And as we blow on the matches

And brace to take the shock

My mind is in Nantucket

Hauling whale meat into dock