Jethro Tull - The Whaler's Dues Lyrics






Money speaks. Soft hearts lose. The truth only whispers.
It's the whaler's dues.

I've been running on diesel. Been running on coal.
Running on borrowed time, if truth's to be told.
Two whales in the ocean, cruising the night
search for each other before we turn out their light.

Been accused of deep murder on the North Atlantic swell
but I have three hungry children and a young wife as well.
And behind stand generations of hard hunting men
who raised a glass to the living, and went killing again.
Are you with me?

Money speaks, soft hearts lose. The truth only whispers.
Now pay the whaler's dues.
Can you forgive me?

Now I'm old and I sit land-locked in a back-country jail
to reflect on all of my sins and the death of the whale.
Send me back down the ages. Put me to sea once again
when the oceans were full --- yes, and men would be men.
Can you forgive me?





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Jethro Tull The Whaler's Dues Comments
  1. S.... R....

    My first Tull concert was the Rock Island tour. In Ludwigshafen Germany. Ian introduced that song with the words: Who likes Whales. And me not too familiar with the Album began to wonder why he was Talking About Wales.

  2. S.... H....

    Such an excellent song, with such excellent music and riffs, such evocative lyrics, painting such strong images in my mind.
    sttgaegoaktd

    S.... H....

    You mean like the flute riff @ 3:19? (Sends chills up my spine!!)

  3. t.... ....

    Money speaks. Soft hearts lose. The truth only whispers.
    It's the whaler's dues.

    I've been running on diesel. Been running on coal.
    Running on borrowed time, if truth's to be told.
    Two whales in the ocean, cruising the night
    search for each other before we turn out their light.

    Been accused of deep murder on the North Atlantic swell
    but I have three hungry children and a young wife as well.
    And behind stand generations of hard hunting men
    who raised a glass to the living, and went killing again.
    Are you with me?

    Money speaks, soft hearts lose. The truth only whispers.
    Now pay the whaler's dues.
    Can you forgive me?

    Now I'm old and I sit land-locked in a back-country jail
    to reflect on all of my sins and the death of the whale.
    Send me back down the ages. Put me to sea once again
    when the oceans were full --- yes, and men would be men.
    Can you forgive me?

  4. U.... ....

    Can you forgive me?

    U.... ....

    It depends. It always depends.

    U.... ....

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

  5. J.... D....

    RIP Maartin Allcock, a gentleman and a scholar!