Bonnie Ship the Diamond

Tom (vocal) with Pete (melodeon and vocal) and Arthur (whistle and vocal)

This version of the well known whaling song was learnt from the singing of Peter Hall who may have taken it from the Greig-Duncan manuscripts where there are eight texts with tunes although none is quite the same as this.
The Diamond was built in Québec in 1801 and brought into the Aberdeen fleet in 1812. The Aberdeen Journal of 18 March 1812 reports: “The fine new Ship Diamond, Gibbon (that is, with Captain Gibbon in command) sailed on Thursday last, for the Davis’ Straits Whale Fishery.” When she arrived back in August she had a catch of eleven fish. The ship went on a yearly voyage until 1819 when she was caught in the early autumn ice and lost while staying too late in the season. Fortunately the crew were all saved. (GD 1:11; Roud 2172)

The Diamond it’s a ship ma lads, for Davis Straits she’s bound,
The quay it is aa garnished wi bonnie lassies roon;
Captain Gibbon gives command, tae sail the ocean wide,
Far the sun it niver sets ma lads, nor darkness dim the sky. [far=where

Sae be cheerful ma lads and let yer herts niver fail,
For the bonnie ship the Diamond goes a-fishin for the whale.

Alang the quay at Aiberdeen the lassies stan aroon,
Their shawls aa pued aboot them, their saut tears rinnin doun;
“Dinna greet ma bonnie lassie, though ye’ve been left behind,
The rose’ll grow on Greenland’s ice afore I change ma mind.”

Best wishes tae the Greenland fleet and aa the whalin trade,
And likewise tae the sailor lads fa earn their daily breid; [fa=who
They wear the trousers o the white and the jackets o the blue,
Fan they get back tae Aiberdeen they’ll find sweetherts a-new. [fan=when

Sae jovial it will be the day, fan the Greenland men come hame,
Wi ships that’s full o oil ma lads, and money tae their names;
They’ll mak the cradle for tae rock and the blankets for tae teer,
And ilka lass in Aiberdeen cry, “Hish-a-ba ma dear.”

Here’s a health untae the Hercules and anither tae the Jane,
A health untae the Bon-accord and the Diamond ship o fame;
A health to Captain Gibbon, and aa the Diamond’s crew,
A health tae every bonnie lass that’s got a hert that’s true.

Sae be cheerful ma lads and let yer herts niver fail,
For the bonnie ship the Diamond goes a-fishin for the whale.

Here’s a health untae the Hercules and anither tae the Jane,
A health untae the Bon-accord and the Diamond ship o fame;
A health to Captain Gibbon, and aa the Diamond’s crew,
A health tae every bonnie lass that’s got a hert that’s true.

Sae be cheerful ma lads and let yer herts niver fail,
For the bonnie ship the Diamond goes a-fishin for the whale.