"The Song Of The World's Last Whale" lyrics - PETE SEEGER

I heard the song
Of the world's last whale
As I rocked in the moonlight
And reefed the sail.
"It'll happen to you
Also without fail
If it happens to me,"
Sang the world's last whale.

It was down off Bermuda
Early last spring
Near an underwater mountain
Where the Humpbacks sing
I lowered the microphone
'Bout a quarter mile down
Turned on the recorder
And let the tape spin 'round

I didn't just hear grunting
I didn't just hear squeaks
I didn't just hear bellows
I didn't just hear shrieks
It was the musical singing
And the passionate wail
That came from the heart
Of the world's last whale.

Down in the Antarctic
There the harpoons wait
But it's up on land
You decide my fate
In London town
They'll be telling the tale
If it's life or death
For the world's last whale

So here's a little test
To see how you feel
Here's a little test
For this age of the automobile
If we can save
Our singers in the sea
Perhaps there's a chance
To save you and me

I heard the song
Of the world's last whale
As I rocked in the moonlight
And reefed the sail
"It'll happen to you
Also without fail
If it happens to me,"
Sang the world's last whale.