Mountain. Nantucket Sleighride

The cold hard steel of the harpoon's point Struck deep into its side. We played out line and backed the oars And took the cruel sleighride. The term "Nantucket Sleighride" was coined by the whalers to explain what happened after they harpooned a whale. (Nantucket Island was considered the whaling capital of the world during the 19th century.) The first strike of the harpoon was not intended to kill the whale but only to attach it to the whale boat. The whale would take off pulling the whale boat along at speeds of up to 23 mph (37 kmh). The whale would eventually tire itself out, the leading officer in the boat would then use a penetrating lance to kill the whale. Nantucket Sleighride is Dedicated to Owen Coffin who was cabin boy aboard the whaler Essex, which was destroyed by a sperm whale in 1819. Owen ended up in the lifeboat with Captain Pollard, his uncle. Two other lifeboats also put out. During the next 3 - 4 months, the lifeboats separated. One was never seen again, but some of those on the remaining two boats were eventually rescued. During those long months at sea (and on desert islands), many of the men died. The remainder eventually had to resort to cannibalism to survive. After the dead of natural causes were consumed, the men determined to draw lots to see who would sacrifice his life for the others. Owen Coffin ``won'' the lottery. The Captain tried to take Owen's place, but the youth insisted on his ``right''. The executioner was also drawn by lot. That ``winner'', another young man named Charles Ramsdell, also tried vainly to swap places with Owen. Again he refused. Owen's body kept the others alive for ten days (Captain Pollard refused to eat his nephew). Another man died, and his body kept Pollard and Ramsdell alive a few more days until they were rescued. Lyrics Goodbye, little Robin-Marie Don't try following me Don't cry, little Robin-Marie 'Cause you know I'm coming home soon My ships' leaving on a three-year tour The next tide will take us from shore Windlaced, gather in sail and spray On a search for the mighty sperm whale Fly your willow branches Wrap your body round my soul Lay down your reeds and drums on my soft sheets There are years behind us reaching To the place where hearts are beating And I know you're the last true love I'll ever meet Starbuck's sharpening his harpoon The black man's playing his tune An old salt's sleeping his watch away He'll be drunk again before noon Three years sailing on bended knee We found no whales in the sea Don't cry, little Robin-Marie 'Cause we'll be in sight of land soon

Channel: Music
Uploaded: November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am
Author: bathsideboy

Length: 05:56
Rating: 4.924528
Views: 123965

Tags: Mountain  Nantucket  Sleighride  Owen  Coffin  Cabin-boy  Whaler  Essex  

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