Popular among Pacific whalers: a sailor signs on aboard one of the Arctic Right or Bowhead whalers which worked from Frisco up to the Bering Straits.
Luke Kelly (of the Dubliners) (Ireland) and the Irish Descendants (Canada) both had some success with the song.
When first I went to Frisco boys, I went upon a spree,
My hard earned cash I spent it fast, I got drunk as drunk could be,
Before me money was all gone, or spent on some old whore,
I made up me mind and was well inclined to go to sea no more.
No more, no more, To go to sea no more,
I made up me mind and was well inclined to go to sea no more.
That night I spent with Sally Brown too drunk to roll in bed,
Me clothes was new me money was too, in the morn with them she fled.
A feeling sick I left the house and went down to the shore.
There I went me head all bend and the crimps at me did roar.
Did roar, did roar, the crimps at me did roar.
There I went, me head all bent and the crimps at me did roar.
The first chap I ran afoul of was Mr. Shanghai Brown.
Well I asked him neat if he'd stand the treat; he looks me up and down.
He said "The last time yer was paid off you chalked me up no score.
But I'll give yes a chance and I'll take yer advance, and send yer to sea once more."
Once more, once more, I'll send you to sea once more,
I'll give yes a chance and I'll take yer advance, and I'll send yer to sea once more."
They shipped me aboard of a whaling ship bound for the Arctic Sea.
Where them cold winds blow and the ice and snow would even make Jamaica rum freeze.
I had no clothes I had no gear, me money spent on a whore,
T'was then I swore that when on shore I'd go to sea no more.
No more, no more, I'd go to sea no more,
T'was then I swore that when on shore I'd go to sea no more.
Some times we caught them sperm whales boys and sometimes we caught none.
With a twenty-foot oar stuck in yer paw you pulled the whole day long,
And when the night it came around and yer nodded on your oar,
A man must be blind to make up his mind to go to sea once more.
Once more, once more, To go to sea once more,
A man must be blind to make up his mind to go to sea once more.
So come all you bully sailor lads and listen to me song.
If you listen to me I'll tell to you and let you know what went wrong.
Take my advice don't drink strong rum nor go drinking with no whore.
Get married instead and spend all night in bed and go to sea no more.
No more, no more, and go to sea no more,
Get married instead and spend all night in bed and go to sea no more.