"Jack Was Every Inch A Sailor" lyrics - BURL IVES

Jack was ev'ry inch a sailor
Five and twenty years a whaler
Jack was ev'ry inch a sailor
He was born upon the bright blue sea

Now 'twas twenty five or thirty years
Since Jack first saw the light
He came into this world of woe
One dark and stormy night
He was born on board his father's ship
As she was lying to
'Bout twenty five or thirty miles
Southeast of Baccalieu

Jack was ev'ry inch a sailor
Five and twenty years a whaler
Jack was ev'ry inch a sailor
He was born upon the bright blue sea

When Jack grew up to be a man
He went to Labrador
He fished in Indian Harbour
Where his father fished before
On his returning in the fog
He met a heavy gale
And Jack was swept into the sea
And swallowed by a whale

Jack was ev'ry inch a sailor
Five and twenty years a whaler
Jack was ev'ry inch a sailor
He was born upon the bright blue sea

The whale went straight for Baffin's Bay
About ninety knots an hour
And every time he'd blow a spray
He'd send it in a shower
"O, now" says Jack unto himself
"I must see what he's about"
He caught the whale by the tail
And turned him inside out

Jack was ev'ry inch a sailor
Five and twenty years a whaler
Jack was ev'ry inch a sailor
He was born upon the bright blue sea