Got a whale of a tale to tell ya, lads
A whale of a tale or two
‘Bout the flapping fish and girls I’ve loved
On nights like this with the moon above
A whale of a tale and it’s all true,
I swear by my tatoo
There was Mermaid Minnie
Met her down in Madagascar
She would kiss me
Anytime that I would ask her
Then one evening
Her flame of love blew out
Blow me down and pick me up,
She swapped me for a trout!
Got a whale of a tale to tell ya, lads
A whale of a tale or two
‘Bout the flapping fish and girls I’ve loved
On nights like this with the moon above
A whale of a tale and it’s all true,
I swear by my tatoo
There was Typhoon Tessie
Met her on the coast of Java
When we kissed I
Bubbled up like molten lava
Then she gave me
The scare of my young life
Blow me down, and pick me up
She was the captain’s wife!
Got a whale of a tale to tell ya, lads
A whale of a tale or two
‘Bout the flapping fish and girls I’ve loved
On nights like this with the moon above
A whale of a tale and it’s all true,
I swear by my tatoo
Then there was Harpoon Hannah
Had a look that spelled out danger
My heart quivered when she whispered,
«I’m there, stranger»
Bought her trinkets
That sailors can’t afford
(Sailors can’t afford)
And when I spent my last red cent
She tossed me overboard!
Got a whale of a tale to tell ya, lads
A whale of a tale or two
‘Bout the flapping fish and girls I’ve loved
On nights like this with the moon above
A whale of a tale and it’s all true,
I swear by my tatoo!
