13. The Gold upon the Mast | Moby-Dick Act II: The Captain’s Purpose

[Verse 1]
I call you from your labour to the mast,
The hidden hour I waited for has passed.
I stand before you, captain of this crew,
And now I tell you what I mean to do.

[Verse 2]
See here this gold that catches at the sun,
A shining prize that waits until it's won.
The first man who can sight him with his eye,
Shall take this gold the moment of his cry.

[Chorus]
Gold upon the mast, let every lookout scan,
For Moby Dick, the whale that marked this man.
I name the quarry, white against the foam,
And turn this ship towards the path I roam.

[Verse 3]
I know the shape that haunts my waking sight,
I carry what he took by day and night.
The scar upon me speaks of what was done,
The ivory reminds me where I've come.

[Verse 4]
We sail as whalers, skilled upon the sea,
But now one quarry matters most to me.
Let every masthead search the widening main,
Until that distant whiteness shows again.

[Chorus]
Gold upon the mast, let every lookout scan,
For Moby Dick, the whale that marked this man.
I name the quarry, white against the foam,
And turn this ship towards the path I roam.

[Verse 5]
I see the purpose kindle in your gaze,
The golden promise catches like a blaze.
A single prize can sharpen every eye,
And make each man attend the sea and sky.

[Verse 6]
So watch the horizon, measure every wave,
Remember what your captain came to crave.
The ocean hid him once beyond my reach,
This time my will shall follow where I preach.

[Chorus]
Gold upon the mast, let every lookout scan,
For Moby Dick, the whale that marked this man.
I name the quarry, white against the foam,
And turn this ship towards the path I roam.

[Outro]
The gold now hangs where every man can see,
A bright command above this darkening sea.
Let every eye pursue the path I choose,
For I have named the whale I will not lose.

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[The Scene] After the ordinary routines of the voyage and Ishmael’s quiet watch above the sea, Ahab summons the crew to the quarter-deck and brings his private obsession into the open. Before the assembled sailors, he fixes a gold doubloon to the mast and promises it to the first man who sights Moby Dick. The white whale is no longer merely the source of Ahab’s hidden wound, but the quarry he intends the Pequod to pursue. The glittering reward and Ahab’s commanding presence draw the men towards his purpose, while Starbuck immediately recognises that their working whaling voyage is being turned towards one man’s personal revenge. [Verse 1] I call you from your labour to the mast, The hidden hour I waited for has passed. I stand before you, captain of this crew, And now I tell you what I mean to do. [Verse 2] See here this gold that catches at the sun, A shining prize that waits until it's won. The first man who can sight him with his eye, Shall take this gold the moment of his cry. [Chorus] Gold upon the mast, let every lookout scan, For Moby Dick, the whale that marked this man. I name the quarry, white against the foam, And turn this ship towards the path I roam. [Verse 3] I know the shape that haunts my waking sight, I carry what he took by day and night. The scar upon me speaks of what was done, The ivory reminds me where I've come. [Verse 4] We sail as whalers, skilled upon the sea, But now one quarry matters most to me. Let every masthead search the widening main, Until that distant whiteness shows again. [Chorus] Gold upon the mast, let every lookout scan, For Moby Dick, the whale that marked this man. I name the quarry, white against the foam, And turn this ship towards the path I roam. [Verse 5] I see the purpose kindle in your gaze, The golden promise catches like a blaze. A single prize can sharpen every eye, And make each man attend the sea and sky. [Verse 6] So watch the horizon, measure every wave, Remember what your captain came to crave. The ocean hid him once beyond my reach, This time my will shall follow where I preach. [Chorus] Gold upon the mast, let every lookout scan, For Moby Dick, the whale that marked this man. I name the quarry, white against the foam, And turn this ship towards the path I roam. [Outro] The gold now hangs where every man can see, A bright command above this darkening sea. Let every eye pursue the path I choose, For I have named the whale I will not lose.

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