Whale Of A Tale
SALT SEA PIRATES Lyrics
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I got a whale of a tale to tell ya, lads
A whale of a tale or two
About 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 that I would ask her
Then one evening her flame of love blew out
Well blow me down and pick me up!
She swapped me for a trout
Got a whale of a tale to tell ya, lads
A whale of a tale or two
About 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, I met her off the coast of Java
When she kissed me I bubbled up like molten lava
Then she gave me the scare of my young life
Well 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
About 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
Whistling
There was Hurricane Hannah, with a look that spelled out danger
She made me quiver, when she whispered "I'm yours stranger"
I 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
About 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
"Whale of a Tale" by SALT SEA PIRATES is a humorous sea shanty that tells the story of an adventurous sailor who regales his listeners with tall tales of his romantic escapades with various women and his encounters with sea creatures, particularly whales. The song has a jovial tone that reflects the carefree spirit of seafarers who brave the ocean waves and seek out new experiences.
The lyrics are filled with rich imagery and playful metaphors that paint a vivid picture of the sailor's colorful life. Each verse introduces a new character, such as Mermaid Minnie, Typhoon Tessie, and Hurricane Hannah, who represent different archetypes of women - the seductress, the wife, and the femme fatale - that the sailor has encountered on his travels. The chorus, which repeats throughout the song, emphasizes the sailor's exaggerated tales of fish and love and adds to the whimsical nature of the song.
Overall, "Whale of a Tale" is a fun and lighthearted song that celebrates the adventurous spirit of seafaring, the power of imagination, and the joy of storytelling.
Line by Line Meaning
One, two, three, four
Counting off to start the song
I got a whale of a tale to tell ya, lads
I have an exciting story to share with you all
A whale of a tale or two
A few tales that involve whales
About the flappin' fish and the girls I've loved
My stories include fish and my past romantic interests
On nights like this with the moon above
These events happened on similar nights with a visible moon
A whale of a tale and it's all true
These stories may seem wild but they are truthful
I swear by my tattoo
I am so confident in the truthfulness of my tales that I am willing to stake it on my tattoo
There was Mermaid Minnie, met her down in Madagascar
I met a woman nicknamed Mermaid Minnie while visiting Madagascar
She would kiss me, any time that I would ask her
Minnie was a willing and affectionate romantic partner
Then one evening her flame of love blew out
Minnie's interest in me abruptly ended
Well blow me down and pick me up!
An exclamation of surprise to Minnie's sudden change of heart
She swapped me for a trout
Minnie left me for someone or something else
There was Typhoon Tessie, I met her off the coast of Java
I met a woman named Typhoon Tessie while near Java's shore
When she kissed me I bubbled up like molten lava
Tessie's affection made me feel incredibly excited and alive
Then she gave me the scare of my young life
Tessie frightened me greatly at some point
She was the captain's wife
Tessie was the spouse of the ship's captain
There was Hurricane Hannah, with a look that spelled out danger
I met another woman, Hurricane Hannah, whose appearance hinted at danger
She made me quiver, when she whispered "I'm yours stranger"
Hannah's romantic overture made me feel nervous yet curious
I bought her trinkets that sailors can't afford
I gave Hannah lavish gifts that only someone wealthy could afford
And when I spent my last red cent
I used up all of my money on Hannah's gifts
She tossed me overboard!
Hannah showed her true colors and physically got rid of me
Writer(s): NORMAN GIMBEL, AL HOFFMAN
Contributed by William D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.