Greenland Whale Fisheries | The Longest Johns

On our recent stop through Newcastle, we had the chance to visit our producer, and very good friend, Paul Worthington’s new studio, called Salt (@saltrecording). We decided it’d be great fun to sing this little ditty from our most recent album, Voyage! ENJOY!!
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Lyrics:
In eighteen hundred and fifty-six
On June the thirteenth day
We hoisted our colours to the top of the mast
And for Greenland bore away
(Brave boys, for Greenland bore away)
Well, the lookout on the crosstrees stood
A spy-glass in his hand
"There's a whale, there's a whale, there's a whalefish!" he cried,
"And she blows at every span!"
(Brave boys, and she blows at every span!)
{Chorus}
For Greenland is a hell of a place
It's a place that's never green
Where there's ice and there's snow and the whalefishes blow
And the daylight's seldom seen, brave boys
The daylight's seldom seen
Our Captain stood on the quarterdeck
A gallant man was he
"Overhaul, overhaul, let your davit tackles fall,
And we launch our boats to sea."
(Brave boys, we launch our boats to sea)
Well, the harpoon struck and the line paid out
But she gave a flourish with her tail
And the boat capsized and we lost seven men
And we ne'er did catch that whale
(Brave boys, and we ne'er did catch that whale)
{Chorus}
Now the losing of those seven brave men
It grieved the captain sore
But the losing of that bloody great whale
It grieved him ten times more
(Brave boys, it grieved him ten times more)
{Chorus 2x}
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The Longest Johns
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[@alvpyrola]

Hooray! Such a good song! Delicious harmonies, (brave) boys. Many thanks!

[@joelaw13]

I gotta say, the Longest Johns as this trio has the tightest harmonies I've seen from them. Love it guys!

[@Subjecttochannel]

The concert y'all did last night was the first I ever went to after years of not understanding why they were such a big deal, and I was sold 5 seconds after Dagher took the stage. Incredible isn't a good enough word for how I want to describe it

[@billbrockman779]

Same here.

[@nataliebland3078]

Same

[@ericlecours4208]

My grandfather and his brothers, whatever family was around used to sing this song at every family gathering. Usually later in the evening. Some of my favorite childhood memories.

[@lonelybanshee8593]

Favorite song from the album. Seriously, please do more stripped-down shanties that are sung as shanties. Too few bands doing it anymore, and y'all are the best.

[@jakehalsey4128]

Please do Antigua Gravyard next ❤

[@thomascraig6814]

YAAAASSSSS

[@mistfate4199]

Finally someone else!

[@areknames0000]

Yessir!!

[@gracehulbert7867]

YEESS!! PLEEEEEEEEEEEEAAASE!!!! 🙏

[@CapriUni]

Most adequately Adequate! And salutations to Paul Worthington, too.

[@joaomonteiro1574]

You guys have no ideia of how your songs kinda "saved" me during pandemics, and still motivates me till this day. I'm very grateful to all you guys, and Dave, for existing and for making my life more joyful with your great songs :) Hugs from Brazil.

[@krockpotbroccoli65]

Next time you guys are in New England, set up a show at the Mystic Seaport in Connecticut. They have an old, fully restored New Bedford whaling ship, the Charles W. Morgan. As far as I know, she's the last seaworthy wooden whaling bark in the world. I cant think of a better place than her deck for you guys to do a set!

[@ladybuglore]

HIGHLY recommend listening to this with good headphones!! these harmonies are delicious

[@Volvary]

JD's deep voice is so good

[@marniedaniel9765]

What a flawless recording! Harmonies so tight!!!

[@andrewshook2167]

My uncle used to play the Pogues in the shop, this song included. I played this (and had several shipmates act it out) in a talent show on my second boat, 23 years old on the Yamaha acoustic guitar I bought when I was 14. We won and crossed the equator that day (compliments from both his royal highness King Neptune and Davy Jones). RIP Shane and excellent cover.

[@Onandagus]

One of my favorites on the new album!

[@jessinthegarden]

Ohhh delightfully adequate. Maybe it’s just that it’s been too long since I made it to one of these, but that was sooo satisfying (maybe especially those deep harmonies * chef’s kiss *), but just all of it was so much what I needed after a rough too many weeks. Thank you all, as ever

[@marvinronne7316]

I love JD's deep voice. That will probably be the next song lyrics I Memorieze....Thanks, guys

[@KSilverlode]

Mmm, yummy harmonies! One of my favorites from Voyage, love it!

[@dvulpis29]

We’re whalers 🐋 on the moon 🌖 we carry a harpoon, but there ain’t no whales so we tell tall tales, and we sing a whaling tune.

[@reallygoodbee]

I still want to hear Court of the Crimson King. If you guys will never do it, please, just... just let me know.

[@robinhard111]

Great stuff!

[@barbarakennedy2667]

I just love sea shanties.

[@SebTheGardener]

Absolute gold! Safe travels my friends

[@yasumedia9528]

Classic LJ harmonies and a fun chorus for the win!

[@EmelineHalsted]

A cover of "The Big Hewer" and "White Squall" would also be amazing!

[@AubergineJacket]

I wish I could like this a million times!!!!! I just love you gents and all that you do!

[@KaydianBladebreaker]

Love it, great harmonies.

[@BardofCornwall]

Well done, Mateys!

[@andrewcottrell8931]

This is my favourite song on the new album, their voices just sound even better together than usual!

[@ClinkerreknilC]

Great song and cover! You really should do a cover of The Big Hewer and White Squall.

[@moragmckay3779]

I can't wait for this; a huge favourite I've been hoping for, for ages.

[@Auriaux]

Gentlemen, your voices...so beautiful.

[@jasminv8653]

❤❤❤❤❤yesss

[@primecon9547]

The duel lightsaber looking mic settup is awesome

[@thud13x]

My favourite song from Voyage. Don't ever tire of hearing it.

[@corneliusborchardt3846]

World class

[@Biast12]

really love these types of videos/songs, really gives the vibe of a sea shanty

[@kingdavidapple]

Delightfully adequate. A glass of ale with ye, lads!

[@cloudstress]

You guys have the most beautiful harmonies!

[@kathleensnow9836]

After having seen you in Alexandria, it's a treat to enjoy these weekly mini concerts until I can see you again!

[@Thepigofthesea]

This is one of my favourites, bravo boys!

[@stereodreamer23]

VERY interesting take on this song. I'm familiar with the more "traditional" versions, but your harmonies and chord progressions are so delicious! Great job, and a delightful interpretation. Keep at it boys--you bring joy into our lives with every new song!

[@biglink.2010]

Boys can't wait for Montreal

[@nbenefiel]

You guys are brilliant.You don’t need the flashing lights, the drums and the deafening noise. When it’s just you and the song, it’s sublime.

[@LouiSwagula]

you guys are so awesome and inspirational. I learned how to sing by singing along to all your tunes.

[@HfdQuarry]

Definitely looking forward to hearing you support Bellowhead 👍

Very nice :)

[@MEGQuilts]

Thanks so much for this version. The only other I'd heard was the PPM one that was included in a YMCA camp songbook from the late 70's/early 80's. Love hearing new/old iterations, and your harmonies are amazing, as always!

[@harvmate]

Adequate! Seriously - Wonderful, I love this one, a quintessential shanty. Antiguan graveyard? 🙏

[@uncleiroh734]

Just saw you guys in Atlanta, it was an absolutely wonderful experience, it was wonderful getting to meet you guys, as well as Seàn Dagher. Good Job all around!

[@fj55tyrant]

Fantastic !

[@suzibee9796]

Y'all are my favorite 💕 🐳🐋⚓️

[@simonrowe4686]

i'll put here the same as Robbie said to me when i saw you guys in Belfast; "OH! Skimmety Hitchers!" (when he saw my t-shirt). jkjk. but genuinely i love the raw, close-quarter sounds of these songs! i'd love to hear more with the deeper notes like 'Old Maui' and stuff like that! keep being awesome and keep bringing smiles to everyones faces!

[@annewoodward4336]

I love this song! It's just so joininable.

[@ed_lifts]

I'm going to start using "joininable" as a word more often

[@avrilwilkinson21]

Johnnable? maybe...

[@nbenefiel]

I am so excited. We are going to see them in Chicago next week. I bought the tickets in October, fortunately, as the concert is sold out.

[@nbenefiel]

I hated the concert. It was loud, there were flashing lights, Robbie was jumping all over the place. It was like seeing the Stones in the late 60’s. I assumed they were no longer doing folk. The next day, they released the most beautiful acapella rendition of Shenandoah that I’ve heard since Paul Robeson. I am totally confused.

[@rileyhoffman6629]

Never sounded better, Gents!

[@DeathwishXDreamer]

I just discovered the folk song they wrote to accompany the 10000-year nuclear safety plan, where scientists were going to breed cats who change color in areas of high radiation and this song was supposed to remind people that it's a sign of danger. Currently the only version I can find is "Don't Change Color, Kitty" by Emperor X, but I'd be interested to hear a Longest Johns cover of it.

[@Thoran666]

Vampires love Greenland.

[@gerrythekay]

When Vikings first settled on a green island, they named it Iceland to discourage others. To further muddy the waters they named a more distant ice-covered island “Greenland”.

[@wurzelrudi]

You're setting high standards for upcoming recordings... But I trust you'll do well. Good job boys!

[@lonelybanshee8593]

Derby Ram!

[@ProfesoraNut]

Robbie's facial expressions always take me out 💀🤣🤣

[@jakescheirer3022]

Adequate. Quite.

[@nbenefiel]

I wish you would do Billy Gray.

[@ted1045]

In an era where whales were still hunted up close in rowboats you'd have to be incredibly brave to hunt those animals. Very dangerous. Good song in either case.

[@jacksparrowmonk1111]

I'm sorry I was just mad that I didn't get into the Concert

[@grahamedarley5106]

Yup, adequate 😁

[@achilleus9918]

this is such a stupid song and i fucking love it

[@Thesrin]

Bruh....who farts at @1:39