Save the whales
Read Save the whales lyrics by Grateful Dead on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.
The page facts to cite before the commentary
Use this page for the lyric text, linked artist context, and any LyroVerse editor's note attached to the song. Listener comments remain user-generated and should not be treated as the primary source.
Save the whales
The lyric stays readable and compact here; the note and related paths sit nearby so you do not lose the song while looking for context.
When my grandpa was a boy, he went down to the general store.
Saw a picture book of whales, shootin' his spout and flashin' his tail.
Then he go, a sailor's dream, cruisin' around on the salty sea.
Joinin' up with a fisher crew go out and get him a whale or two.
Tell me what kind of men are these that sail upon the salty seas.
Lovin' and drinkin' in the afternoon, swabbin' the deck and sharpnin' harpoons.
Hooray, up she rises. Hooray, up she rises. Hooray, up she rises.
So early in the morning.
Lots of whales in the deep blue sea, we kill them for the companies.
Drag 'em alongside and chop 'em in two, melt them down and sail it to you.
There hardly is a sailor alive, who can keep a tear from his eye.
Cause he remembers the good old days when there were no whales to save.
Thank the Russians and the Japanese for scouring the deep, blue sea.
Lookin' for ivory and perfume, all the light you'll ever need.
Hooray, up she rises. Hooray, up she rises. Hooray, up she rises.
So early in the morning.
Shanghi got a lot on the move, put out from Boston in the middle of June.
Thirty-six months out at sea is nothing but death and misery.
Set off on a three year cruise, Union ship and a Union crew.
And after six months he began to see, whalin' not what it used to be.
A modern ship and a modern crew, occalascopes and explodin' harpoons.
A mechanical boat made of steel,
A floatin' machine just to kill all the whales.
Hooray, up she rises. Hooray, up she rises. Hooray, up she rises.
So early in the mornin'.
When my grandpa was a boy, he went down to the general store.
Saw a picture book of whales, shootin' his spout and flashin' his tail.
Then he got a sailor's dream, cruisin' around on the salty sea.
Joinin' up with a fisher crew go out and get him a whale or two.
Tell me what kind of men are these that sail upon the salty seas.
Lovin' and drinkin' in the afternoon, swabbin' the deck and sharpnin' harpoons.
Hooray, up she rises. Hooray, up she rises. Hooray, up she rises.
So early in the morning.
What this page can answer fast
Who performs "Save the whales"?
Grateful Dead performs "Save the whales", and this lyric page sits inside the Grateful Dead catalog on LyroVerse.
Are there related songs to explore after "Save the whales"?
Yes. The related section below points to China Doll and All Over Now with a short reason for opening each page next.
Where can I find more songs by Grateful Dead?
Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Grateful Dead's lyric pages.
Interpretations, questions, and corrections for this song
Interpretations, questions, memories, and correction notes live together here. The room stays noindex while the best insights are reviewed.
What people are saying
No listener comments on Save the whales yet.
A strong comment here is specific: the phrase you keep hearing, the mood you come back for, or the reason this song stays in rotation.
Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.