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The Whaler’s Dues Lyrics by Jethro Tull

Rock Island

1989

[Chorus 1]
Money speaks
Soft hearts lose
The truth only whispers
It's the whaler's dues

[Verse 1]
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

[Verse 2]
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?

[Chorus 2]
Money speaks
Soft hearts lose
The truth only whispers
Now pay the whaler's dues
Can you forgive me?
(No!)

[Chorus 3]
Money speaks
Soft hearts lose
The truth only whispers
Now pay the whaler's dues

[Verse 3]
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 a 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?

About “The Whaler’s Dues” by Jethro Tull

Read the complete lyrics to "The Whaler’s Dues" by Jethro Tull from the album "Rock Island" in 1989. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Rock.

"The Whaler’s Dues" is performed by Jethro Tull. from the album "Rock Island" in 1989 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "The Whaler’s Dues", explore more songs by Jethro Tull using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"The Whaler’s Dues" is credited to Jethro Tull. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"The Whaler’s Dues" appears on "Rock Island" in 1989.

Visit the Jethro Tull artist page at /artist/jethro-tull for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.


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