Whale of a Tale

Got a whale of a tale to tell you, lads
A whale of a tale or two
'Bout the flapping 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 died out
For blow me down and pick me up
I swapped him for a trout

Got a whale of a tale to tell you, lads
A whale of a tale or two
'Bout the flapping 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 a captain's wife

Got a whale of a tale to tell you, lads
A whale of a tale or two
'Bout the flapping 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 you, lads
A whale of a tale or two
'Bout the flapping 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