The Balena Lyrics And Guitar Chords by The McCalmans
The McCalmans. The sheet music is included-The Balena sailed from Dundee to Greenland in search of Whales during the first part of the 19th century. The guitar chords fit the McCalmans version of the song-Traditional
The (C)noble fleet of whalers went (F)sailing from Dun(G)dee
Well manned by British sailors to (F)work upon the (G)sea
On the (C)western ocean passage none (F)can with them com(G)pare
For there's not a ship could make the trip as Ba(F)lena (G)I de(C)clare
Chorus
The (C)wind is on the quarter and her (F)engine’s working (G)free
And there's not another whaler that (F)sails out from Dun(G)dee
Can (C)beat the ould Balena she'll (F)need no trial (G)run
For we challenge all both great and small from (F)Dundee (G)to St. (C)John
It (C)happened on Tuesday three (F)days out of Dun(G)dee
The Gale took off the long boat and a (F)couple of men you (G)see
That (C)took away our bulwark, our (F)stanchions and our (G)rails
And left the ould Balena boys a (F)frothing (G)in the (C)gales
Chorus
There's a (C)new built Terra Nova, she's a (F)model with no (G)doubt
There's the “Arctic” and the “Aurora” you've (F)heard so much a(G)bout
There's (C)Jacklin's model mail-boat, the (F)terror of the (G)sea
Couldn't beat the ould Balena boys on a (F)passage (G)from Dun(C)dee
Chorus
Bold (C)Jacklin cut the canvas and (F)fairly raised the (G)steam
And Captain Guy with Erin boy goes (F)ploughing through the (G)stream
But (C)Millan says the “Eskimo” could (F)beat the bloomin' (G)lot
But to beat the ould Balena boys they'd (F)find it (G)rather (C)hot
And (C)now that we have landed boys where the (F)rum is mighty (G)cheap
We'll drink success to Captain Guy for (F)getting o'er the (G)deep
And (C)health to all our sweethearts and (F)to our wives so (G)fair
Not another ship could make that trip but the Ba(F)lena (G)I de(C)clare
Well manned by British sailors to (F)work upon the (G)sea
On the (C)western ocean passage none (F)can with them com(G)pare
For there's not a ship could make the trip as Ba(F)lena (G)I de(C)clare
Chorus
The (C)wind is on the quarter and her (F)engine’s working (G)free
And there's not another whaler that (F)sails out from Dun(G)dee
Can (C)beat the ould Balena she'll (F)need no trial (G)run
For we challenge all both great and small from (F)Dundee (G)to St. (C)John
It (C)happened on Tuesday three (F)days out of Dun(G)dee
The Gale took off the long boat and a (F)couple of men you (G)see
That (C)took away our bulwark, our (F)stanchions and our (G)rails
And left the ould Balena boys a (F)frothing (G)in the (C)gales
Chorus
There's a (C)new built Terra Nova, she's a (F)model with no (G)doubt
There's the “Arctic” and the “Aurora” you've (F)heard so much a(G)bout
There's (C)Jacklin's model mail-boat, the (F)terror of the (G)sea
Couldn't beat the ould Balena boys on a (F)passage (G)from Dun(C)dee
Chorus
Bold (C)Jacklin cut the canvas and (F)fairly raised the (G)steam
And Captain Guy with Erin boy goes (F)ploughing through the (G)stream
But (C)Millan says the “Eskimo” could (F)beat the bloomin' (G)lot
But to beat the ould Balena boys they'd (F)find it (G)rather (C)hot
And (C)now that we have landed boys where the (F)rum is mighty (G)cheap
We'll drink success to Captain Guy for (F)getting o'er the (G)deep
And (C)health to all our sweethearts and (F)to our wives so (G)fair
Not another ship could make that trip but the Ba(F)lena (G)I de(C)clare
🎸 2. Strumming Pattern (6/8 Sea-Swing Feel)
This is the “rolling” rhythm common in whaling or sailing songs — like a slow jig.
You count it as 1-2-3 4-5-6, with two main pulses per bar.
↓ ↓↑ ↓ ↓↑
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6
How to feel it:
Beat 1 = strong downstroke (bass strings)
Beat 2–3 = light up/down brushes (middle strings)
Beat 4 = another bass pulse
Beat 5–6 = light brushing again
🎵 It should feel like “boom–chicka–boom–chicka” — steady but gentle, like a ship rocking on waves.
🎸 3. Fingerpicking Pattern (Rolling 6/8 Arpeggio)
Use this for verses when you want a storytelling feel.
It mirrors the sea roll perfectly.
Pattern per bar:
T – I – M – A – M – I
(Thumb = bass, Index = G, Middle = B, Ring = E)
Keep a soft, circular picking motion — thumb steady, fingers flowing.
🎶 Tabs for Each Chord
C Major
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--3-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
F Major
e|--------1-----------1-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--3-----------3-----------------|
A|--3-----------------------------|
E|--1-----------------------------|
(Or use Fmaj7 for an easier open shape)
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--3-----------3-----------------|
A|--3-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
G Major
e|--------3-----------3-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--3-----------------------------|
💡 Example Fingerpicked Verse
C F G
e|--------0-----------0------|--------1-----------3--------|
B|------1---1-------1---1----|------1---1-------0---0------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0--|----2-------2---0-------0----|
D|--2-----------2------------|--3-----------0--------------|
A|--3-------------------------|--3--------------------------|
E|-----------------------------|--1-----------3-------------|
The noble fleet of whalers went sailing from Dundee...
💡 Example Fingerpicked Chorus
C F G
e|--------0-----------0---------|--------1-----------3-------|
B|------1---1-------1---1-------|------1---1-------0---0-----|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-----|----2-------2---0-------0---|
D|--2-----------2---------------|--3-----------0-------------|
A|--3----------------------------|--3-------------------------|
E|-------------------------------|--1-----------3-------------|
The wind is on the quarter and her engine’s working free...
⚙️ Performance Tips
🎵 Feel:
The 6/8 pulse should roll, not march — imagine a ship’s deck swaying underfoot.
Bass notes (thumb) give the feel of the sea’s rise and fall.
Use alternating basses for movement:
C: 5th → 4th string
F: 6th → 4th
G: 6th → 4th
🎵 Dynamics:
Verses: soft fingerpicking or light strum.
Chorus: broaden with fuller strumming or add bass emphasis.
Final “From Dundee to St. John” — slow down slightly (ritardando) for a strong ending.
🎵 Optional embellishments:
Add hammer-ons on the C → F transitions for color:
e|--------0-----------|
B|------1---1h3-------|
G|----0---------------|
D|--2-----------------|
A|--3-----------------|
E|--------------------|
🎵 Ending suggestion:
Let the final C ring out arpeggiated:
e|--0-----------|
B|----1---------|
G|------0-------|
D|--2-----------|
A|--3-----------|
E|--------------|
This is the “rolling” rhythm common in whaling or sailing songs — like a slow jig.
You count it as 1-2-3 4-5-6, with two main pulses per bar.
↓ ↓↑ ↓ ↓↑
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6
How to feel it:
Beat 1 = strong downstroke (bass strings)
Beat 2–3 = light up/down brushes (middle strings)
Beat 4 = another bass pulse
Beat 5–6 = light brushing again
🎵 It should feel like “boom–chicka–boom–chicka” — steady but gentle, like a ship rocking on waves.
🎸 3. Fingerpicking Pattern (Rolling 6/8 Arpeggio)
Use this for verses when you want a storytelling feel.
It mirrors the sea roll perfectly.
Pattern per bar:
T – I – M – A – M – I
(Thumb = bass, Index = G, Middle = B, Ring = E)
Keep a soft, circular picking motion — thumb steady, fingers flowing.
🎶 Tabs for Each Chord
C Major
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--3-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
F Major
e|--------1-----------1-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--3-----------3-----------------|
A|--3-----------------------------|
E|--1-----------------------------|
(Or use Fmaj7 for an easier open shape)
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--3-----------3-----------------|
A|--3-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
G Major
e|--------3-----------3-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--3-----------------------------|
💡 Example Fingerpicked Verse
C F G
e|--------0-----------0------|--------1-----------3--------|
B|------1---1-------1---1----|------1---1-------0---0------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0--|----2-------2---0-------0----|
D|--2-----------2------------|--3-----------0--------------|
A|--3-------------------------|--3--------------------------|
E|-----------------------------|--1-----------3-------------|
The noble fleet of whalers went sailing from Dundee...
💡 Example Fingerpicked Chorus
C F G
e|--------0-----------0---------|--------1-----------3-------|
B|------1---1-------1---1-------|------1---1-------0---0-----|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-----|----2-------2---0-------0---|
D|--2-----------2---------------|--3-----------0-------------|
A|--3----------------------------|--3-------------------------|
E|-------------------------------|--1-----------3-------------|
The wind is on the quarter and her engine’s working free...
⚙️ Performance Tips
🎵 Feel:
The 6/8 pulse should roll, not march — imagine a ship’s deck swaying underfoot.
Bass notes (thumb) give the feel of the sea’s rise and fall.
Use alternating basses for movement:
C: 5th → 4th string
F: 6th → 4th
G: 6th → 4th
🎵 Dynamics:
Verses: soft fingerpicking or light strum.
Chorus: broaden with fuller strumming or add bass emphasis.
Final “From Dundee to St. John” — slow down slightly (ritardando) for a strong ending.
🎵 Optional embellishments:
Add hammer-ons on the C → F transitions for color:
e|--------0-----------|
B|------1---1h3-------|
G|----0---------------|
D|--2-----------------|
A|--3-----------------|
E|--------------------|
🎵 Ending suggestion:
Let the final C ring out arpeggiated:
e|--0-----------|
B|----1---------|
G|------0-------|
D|--2-----------|
A|--3-----------|
E|--------------|
The Balena sheet music
