Barrett’s Shanty
Written by Grant Dawson
In the days of sail before I was born
My father sailed around Cape Horn
With me uncle through the raging storm
With a whaler called Dick Barrett
And the harpoon struck home
And the line it ran out
And the whale gave a flurry with its tail
And we lost poor Dicky Barrett to a hundred barrel whale
And no more he’ll go roving on the sea bonny lads
No more he’ll go roving on the sea
I remember well that fateful day
When the people lined up on the quay
And Dicky Barrett was heard to say
“There she blows, lay to your oars lads”
[Chorus]
In a box made out of rimu wood
New Plymouth round in mourning stood
Asking why to die, he should
That brave whaler, Dicky Barrett
[Chorus]
