John Cook

D G C G Oh, John Cook, ye have taken us to hell; C D Locked up in the ice off Baffin Island. C G G D C We've been here for a year, now the water's comin' clear; G C Won't you set for home, John Cook, without the oil? G Em C G We sailed her out from Gloucester, to hunt the mighty whale; Em D A crew of twenty seasoned whalin' men. C G D Em With Slocum at the helm and me and Drury haulin' sail, C D And the Captain shouting orders at the wind. G Em C G The Captain's wife had begged to go and Cook could not deny her; Em D For Annie Cook was sweet and young and fair. C G D Em She's been this last year down below, a'huddled near the fire; C D G The whaler's lot was more than she could bear. D G C G Oh, John Cook, ye have taken us to hell; C D Locked up in the ice off Baffin Island. C G G D C We've been here for a year, now the water's comin' clear; G C D Won't you set for home, John Cook, without the oil? G Em C G With one year gone and one to go we'd less than half the oil; Em D Four hundred barrels filled and in the hold. C G D Em The Captain turned her north'ard where he knew we'd find the whale C D But instead of whales we found the bitter cold. G Em C G The Atlantic Queen did shudder as she braved the arctic gales; Em D But her master would not heed the mate's advice: C G D Em Oh, Captain, turn her south'ard and damn the hellish whale; C D G For if you don't we'll soon be trapped in ice. D G C G Oh, John Cook, ye have taken us to hell; C D Locked up in the ice off Baffin Island. C G G D C We've been here for a year, now the water's comin' clear; G C D Won't you set for home, John Cook, without the oil? G Em C G Soon the ice stretched all around the proud Atlantic Queen; Em D And nine months gone the food began to spoil. C G D Em The Captain paced the foredeck, tortured, torn between, C D His love for Ann and lusting for the oil. G Em C G For Annie Cook had begged her John to take her home to Gloucester, Em D Or sure it was she'd lose her sanity. C G D Em And the crew of the Atlantic Queen had charged her lord and master C D G To point her south or face a mutiny. D G C G Oh, John Cook, ye have taken us to hell; C D Locked up in the ice off Baffin Island. C G G D C We've been here for a year, now the water's comin' clear; G C D Won't you set for home, John Cook, without the oil? G Em C G The Captain made his choice, he'd not return without the oil. Em D His pride was more important than his wife. C G D Em And when there came the mutiny he shot the Steward Boyle; C D To take the Queen they'd have to take his life. G Em C G Two more weeks, the ice cleared north, we set out the whales to find; Em D We took three beasts before the second day. C G D Em Michael Boyle had lost his life and Annie Cook had lost her mind, C D G And the Captain's coal black hair had gone to gray. D G C G Oh, John Cook, ye have taken us to hell; C D Locked up in the ice off Baffin Island. C G G D C We've been here for a year, now the water's comin' clear; G C Won't you set for home, John Cook, without the oil? D G C G Oh, John Cook, ye have taken us to hell; C D Locked up in the ice off Baffin Island. C G G D C We've been here for a year, now the water's comin' clear; G C Won't you set for home, John Cook, without the oil?