Words: © Phil and June Colclough
Music: © Dick Swain
Dick Swain found this in a book, as a poem, and put his own tune to it, which Cindy and I arranged for our own voices. Since then, Dick found a recording of a tune that Phil wrote himself, that we have not yet heard, so this will be the Dick Swain version!
GB: 12-string C: drum
May the harpoon rust, may the cold steel be gone
May the seas all be clear where whalefishes run
May hook, knife, dart, and line
all be lost in the brine
May the blood on the sails
all be fishermen's tales
May the whalesmen's breath
no more hang like the mist
May he never face danger or take any risk
May boat, gun, oar and mast all be lost in the frost
May the blood on the sails all be fishermen's tales
May the women on shore never have any fears
May smiles touch the cheeks
that once ran with tears
May ship, deck, rope and bells all grow cockle shells
May the blood on the sails all be fishermen's tales
May the seas ne'er be red where whalefishes bled
Nor shine like the wine when the whalefish is dead
May fleets, planksheds and quays
all be lost in the seas
And may the blood on the sails all be fishermen's tales
Blood on the Sails is recorded on the album Neighbors