Oh the noble fleet of whalers out sailing from Dundee,
well manned by British sailors to work them on the sea;
on the Western Ocean passage none with them can compare
for there’s not a ship could make the trip as the Balena I declare.
Chorus:
And the wind is on her quarter and her engine working free,
and there’s no other sailer a-sailing from Dundee
can beat the aul’ Balena and you needna try her on,
for we challenge all both large and small from Dundee to St. Johns.
There’s the new built Terra Nova, she’s a model with no doubt,
there’s the Arctic and the Aurora, you’ve heard so much about,
there’s Jacklin’s model mail-boat, the terror of the sea
couldn’t beat the aul’ Balena, boys, on a passage from Dundee.
Bold Jacklin carries canvas and fairly raises steam
and Captain Guy’s a daring boy, goes ploughing through the stream,
but Mallan says the Eskimo could beat the blooming lot,
but to beat the aul’ Balena, boys, they find it rather hot.
And now that we have landed, boys, where the rum is mighty cheap,
we’ll drink success to Captain Burnett, lads, for getting us ower [sic] the deep,
and a health to all our sweethearts, an’ to our wives so fair,
not another ship could make that trip but the Balena I declare.