Got a whale of a tale to tell ya, lads
A whale of a tale or two
'Bout the flappin' fish and the 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 tattoo
There was Mermaid Minnie
Met her down in Madagascar
She would kiss me
Any time I'd up and ask her
Then one day, her flame of love got out
For, blow me down and pick me up
(I swapped him for a trout!)
Got a whale of a tale to tell ya, lads
A whale of a tale or two
'Bout the flappin' fish and the 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 tattoo
There was Typhoon Tessie
(Met him 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 flappin' fish and the 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 tattoo
There was Harpoon Hannah
Had a look that spelled out danger
My heart quivered, when she whispered
("Hi there, stranger")
Bought her trinkets that 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 flappin' fish and the 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 tattoo...!