The Last Of The Great Whales Lyrics And Chords
The sheet music and tin whistle notes are included for the key of D Major. The original recording by The Dubliners with Sean Cannon doing the singing is in the key of Eb. The song was written by Andy Barnes. The Dubliners don't sing the last verse. Also covered by Celtic Crossroads.
My [D]soul has been [G]torn from [D]me and [G]I am [A]bleed[D]ing
[D]My heart it [G]has been [D]rent and [G]I am [A]cry[D]ing
[D]All the beauty a[G]round me [D]fades and [G]I am [D]scream[G]ing
[D]I am the last of [G]the great [D]whales and [G]I am [A]dy[D]ing
[D]Last night I [G]heard the [D]cry of my [G]last com[A]pan[D]ion
[D]The roar of the [G]harpoon [D]gun and [G]then I [A]was a[D]lone
[D]I thought of the [G]days gone [D]by when [G]we were [D]thous[G]ands
But I [D]know that I [G]soon must [D]die the [G]last leviat[D]han
[D]This morning the [G]sun did [D]rise Crim[G]son in the [D]north sky
[D]The ice was the [G]colour of [D]blood and the [G]winds they [A]did [D]sigh
[D]I rose for to [G]take a [D]breath it [G]was my [D]last [G]one
From a [D]gun came the [G]roar of [D]death and [G]now I [A]am [D]done
[D]Oh now that we [G]are all [D]gone there's [G]no more [A]hunt[D]ing
[D]The big fellow [G]is no [D]more it's no [G]use la[A]ment[D]ing
[D]What race will be [G]next in [D]line? All [G]for the [D]slaugh[G]ter
The [D]elephant [G]or the [D]seal or your [G]sons and [A]daugh[D]ters
[D]My soul has been [G]torn from[D] me and [G]I am [A]bleed[D]ing
My [D]heart it [G]has been [D]rent and [G]I am [A]cry[D]ing
[D]All the beauty a[G]round me [D]fades and [G]I am [D]scream[G]ing
I [D]am the last of [G]the great [D]whales and [G]I am [A]dy[D]ing
And so since time began we have been hunted
Through oceans that were our home we have been haunted
From Eskimos in canoes to mighty whalers
Still you ignored our plea, none came to save us
[D]My heart it [G]has been [D]rent and [G]I am [A]cry[D]ing
[D]All the beauty a[G]round me [D]fades and [G]I am [D]scream[G]ing
[D]I am the last of [G]the great [D]whales and [G]I am [A]dy[D]ing
[D]Last night I [G]heard the [D]cry of my [G]last com[A]pan[D]ion
[D]The roar of the [G]harpoon [D]gun and [G]then I [A]was a[D]lone
[D]I thought of the [G]days gone [D]by when [G]we were [D]thous[G]ands
But I [D]know that I [G]soon must [D]die the [G]last leviat[D]han
[D]This morning the [G]sun did [D]rise Crim[G]son in the [D]north sky
[D]The ice was the [G]colour of [D]blood and the [G]winds they [A]did [D]sigh
[D]I rose for to [G]take a [D]breath it [G]was my [D]last [G]one
From a [D]gun came the [G]roar of [D]death and [G]now I [A]am [D]done
[D]Oh now that we [G]are all [D]gone there's [G]no more [A]hunt[D]ing
[D]The big fellow [G]is no [D]more it's no [G]use la[A]ment[D]ing
[D]What race will be [G]next in [D]line? All [G]for the [D]slaugh[G]ter
The [D]elephant [G]or the [D]seal or your [G]sons and [A]daugh[D]ters
[D]My soul has been [G]torn from[D] me and [G]I am [A]bleed[D]ing
My [D]heart it [G]has been [D]rent and [G]I am [A]cry[D]ing
[D]All the beauty a[G]round me [D]fades and [G]I am [D]scream[G]ing
I [D]am the last of [G]the great [D]whales and [G]I am [A]dy[D]ing
And so since time began we have been hunted
Through oceans that were our home we have been haunted
From Eskimos in canoes to mighty whalers
Still you ignored our plea, none came to save us
Guitar chords for the key of G
My [G]soul has been [C]torn from [G]me and [C]I am [D]bleed[G]ing
[G]My heart it [C]has been [G]rent and [C]I am [D]cry[G]ing
[G]All the beauty a[C]round me [G]fades and [C]I am [G]scream[C]ing
[G]I am the last of [C]the great [G]whales and [C]I am [D]dy[G]ing
[G]Last night I [C]heard the [G]cry of my [C]last com[D]pan[G]ion
[G]The roar of the [C]harpoon [G]gun and [C]then I [D]was a[G]lone
[G]I thought of the [C]days gone [G]by when [C]we were [G]thous[C]ands
But I [G]know that I [C]soon must [G]die the [C]last leviat[G]han
[G]This morning the [C]sun did [G]rise Crim[C]son in the [G]north sky
[G]The ice was the [C]colour of [G]blood and the [C]winds they [D]did [G]sigh
[G]I rose for to [C]take a [G]breath it [C]was my [G]last [C]one
From a [G]gun came the [C]roar of [G]death and [C]now I [D]am [G]done
[G]Oh now that we [C]are all [G]gone there's [C]no more [D]hunt[G]ing
[G]The big fellow [C]is no [G]more it's no [C]use la[D]ment[G]ing
[G]What race will be [C]next in [G]line? All [C]for the [G]slaugh[C]ter
The [G]elephant [C]or the [G]seal or your [C]sons and [D]daugh[G]ters
[G]My soul has been [C]torn from[G] me and [C]I am [D]bleed[G]ing
My [G]heart it [C]has been [G]rent and [C]I am [D]cry[G]ing
[G]All the beauty a[C]round me [G]fades and [C]I am [G]scream[C]ing
I [G]am the last of [C]the great [G]whales and [C]I am [D]dy[G]ing
My [G]soul has been [C]torn from [G]me and [C]I am [D]bleed[G]ing
[G]My heart it [C]has been [G]rent and [C]I am [D]cry[G]ing
[G]All the beauty a[C]round me [G]fades and [C]I am [G]scream[C]ing
[G]I am the last of [C]the great [G]whales and [C]I am [D]dy[G]ing
[G]Last night I [C]heard the [G]cry of my [C]last com[D]pan[G]ion
[G]The roar of the [C]harpoon [G]gun and [C]then I [D]was a[G]lone
[G]I thought of the [C]days gone [G]by when [C]we were [G]thous[C]ands
But I [G]know that I [C]soon must [G]die the [C]last leviat[G]han
[G]This morning the [C]sun did [G]rise Crim[C]son in the [G]north sky
[G]The ice was the [C]colour of [G]blood and the [C]winds they [D]did [G]sigh
[G]I rose for to [C]take a [G]breath it [C]was my [G]last [C]one
From a [G]gun came the [C]roar of [G]death and [C]now I [D]am [G]done
[G]Oh now that we [C]are all [G]gone there's [C]no more [D]hunt[G]ing
[G]The big fellow [C]is no [G]more it's no [C]use la[D]ment[G]ing
[G]What race will be [C]next in [G]line? All [C]for the [G]slaugh[C]ter
The [G]elephant [C]or the [G]seal or your [C]sons and [D]daugh[G]ters
[G]My soul has been [C]torn from[G] me and [C]I am [D]bleed[G]ing
My [G]heart it [C]has been [G]rent and [C]I am [D]cry[G]ing
[G]All the beauty a[C]round me [G]fades and [C]I am [G]scream[C]ing
I [G]am the last of [C]the great [G]whales and [C]I am [D]dy[G]ing
🎸 “The Last of the Great Whales” – Guitar ArrangementTime: 3/4 Tempo: ~70 BPM
Strumming Pattern: ↓ ↓↑ ↓ (Down – Down-Up – Down)
Play slowly and emotionally — accent beat 1 lightly for that maritime ballad feel.
🪕 Verse 1
My [G]soul has been [C]torn from [G]me and [C]I am [D]bleed[G]ing
e|--------3-----------|--------0-----------|--------3-----------|
B|------0---0---------|------1---1---------|------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0-------|----0-------0-------|----0-------0-------|
D|--------------------|--2-----------------|--0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------|--3-----------------|--------------------|
E|--3-----------------|--------------------|--3-----------------|
[G]My heart it [C]has been [G]rent and [C]I am [D]cry[G]ing
e|--------3-----------|--------0-----------|--------3-----------|
B|------0---0---------|------1---1---------|------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0-------|----0-------0-------|----0-------0-------|
D|--------------------|--2-----------------|--0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------|--3-----------------|--------------------|
E|--3-----------------|--------------------|--3-----------------|
[G]All the beauty a[C]round me [G]fades and [C]I am [G]scream[C]ing
e|--------3-----------|--------0-----------|--------3-----------|
B|------0---0---------|------1---1---------|------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0-------|----0-------0-------|----0-------0-------|
D|--------------------|--2-----------------|--0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------|--3-----------------|--2-----------------|
E|--3-----------------|--------------------|--3-----------------|
[G]I am the last of [C]the great [G]whales and [C]I am [D]dy[G]ing
e|--------3-----------|--------0-----------|--------3-----------|
B|------0---0---------|------1---1---------|------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0-------|----0-------0-------|----0-------0-------|
D|--------------------|--2-----------------|--0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------|--3-----------------|--------------------|
E|--3-----------------|--------------------|--3-----------------|
💡 Playing Tips
Fingerpicking (3/4 Waltz):
Use a slow rolling pattern: P–I–M–I–A–M per measure.
P (Thumb): plays bass (E/A/D strings).
I, M, A: pluck G, B, E strings gently.
Keep it flowing and mournful — like ocean waves.
Strumming:
For variation, alternate with soft Down – Down-Up – Down,
muting slightly with your palm on beats 2 and 3 for a heartbeat pulse.
Tone:
Use the neck side of the soundhole for a warm, resonant tone.
Let the bass notes linger slightly for that deep “whale call” mood.
Ending:
End with a slow arpeggiated G chord, letting it fade naturally.
Strumming Pattern: ↓ ↓↑ ↓ (Down – Down-Up – Down)
Play slowly and emotionally — accent beat 1 lightly for that maritime ballad feel.
🪕 Verse 1
My [G]soul has been [C]torn from [G]me and [C]I am [D]bleed[G]ing
e|--------3-----------|--------0-----------|--------3-----------|
B|------0---0---------|------1---1---------|------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0-------|----0-------0-------|----0-------0-------|
D|--------------------|--2-----------------|--0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------|--3-----------------|--------------------|
E|--3-----------------|--------------------|--3-----------------|
[G]My heart it [C]has been [G]rent and [C]I am [D]cry[G]ing
e|--------3-----------|--------0-----------|--------3-----------|
B|------0---0---------|------1---1---------|------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0-------|----0-------0-------|----0-------0-------|
D|--------------------|--2-----------------|--0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------|--3-----------------|--------------------|
E|--3-----------------|--------------------|--3-----------------|
[G]All the beauty a[C]round me [G]fades and [C]I am [G]scream[C]ing
e|--------3-----------|--------0-----------|--------3-----------|
B|------0---0---------|------1---1---------|------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0-------|----0-------0-------|----0-------0-------|
D|--------------------|--2-----------------|--0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------|--3-----------------|--2-----------------|
E|--3-----------------|--------------------|--3-----------------|
[G]I am the last of [C]the great [G]whales and [C]I am [D]dy[G]ing
e|--------3-----------|--------0-----------|--------3-----------|
B|------0---0---------|------1---1---------|------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0-------|----0-------0-------|----0-------0-------|
D|--------------------|--2-----------------|--0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------|--3-----------------|--------------------|
E|--3-----------------|--------------------|--3-----------------|
💡 Playing Tips
Fingerpicking (3/4 Waltz):
Use a slow rolling pattern: P–I–M–I–A–M per measure.
P (Thumb): plays bass (E/A/D strings).
I, M, A: pluck G, B, E strings gently.
Keep it flowing and mournful — like ocean waves.
Strumming:
For variation, alternate with soft Down – Down-Up – Down,
muting slightly with your palm on beats 2 and 3 for a heartbeat pulse.
Tone:
Use the neck side of the soundhole for a warm, resonant tone.
Let the bass notes linger slightly for that deep “whale call” mood.
Ending:
End with a slow arpeggiated G chord, letting it fade naturally.
Celtic Crossroads Last Of The Great Whales
Dubliners ebook of tabs has this song
