14. I Came to Hunt for Oil | Moby-Dick Act II: The Captain’s Purpose

[Verse 1]
I came to sea for labour, oil and pay,
To do the work that brought us all away.
A captain bears a charge beyond his pride,
He keeps the crew and purpose side by side.

[Verse 2]
You hang your gold and name one whale alone,
As though this voyage were your private throne.
We signed to hunt where honest profit lies,
Not feed one wound beneath these open skies.

[Chorus]
I came to hunt for oil, to earn our pay,
And bring these living men home safe one day.
I serve the ship, the voyage and the crew,
And tell you plainly what I know is true.

[Verse 3]
The whale you hate is only flesh at sea,
It knows no oath, no feud, no enemy.
To spend men's lives upon a single scar,
Is not the work that brought us out this far.

[Verse 4]
Your wound is yours, though deeply it may burn,
But every man aboard deserves return.
Their homes lie waiting somewhere on the shore,
Their lives are not the coin to settle score.

[Chorus]
I came to hunt for oil, to earn our pay,
And bring these living men home safe one day.
I serve the ship, the voyage and the crew,
And tell you plainly what I know is true.

[Verse 5]
I speak because command must answer care,
Because the lives below are ours to bear.
A mate who sees a danger and stays still,
Has traded judgement for another's will.

[Verse 6]
You hold command, and I respect your place,
But duty must still govern any chase.
I tell you now what conscience bids me say,
A private wound must not command our way.

[Chorus]
I came to hunt for oil, to earn our pay,
And bring these living men home safe one day.
I serve the ship, the voyage and the crew,
And tell you plainly what I know is true.

[Outro]
The gold may flash above us in the sun,
Yet gold cannot make just what you have done.
I came to hunt for oil across the foam,
And guard the men I mean to bring back home.

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[The Scene] With Ahab's gold now fixed to the mast and his true purpose revealed before the crew, Starbuck refuses to let the declaration pass unanswered. Standing before his captain on the quarter-deck, he reminds Ahab that the Pequod sailed to hunt whales for oil and profit, not to pursue one man's private revenge. His objection is measured but firm, grounded in his responsibility for the sailors whose lives may be placed at risk. The disagreement that has until now existed only in principle becomes an open conflict between Ahab's obsession and Starbuck's belief that command must serve the ship and bring its men safely home. [Verse 1] I came to sea for labour, oil and pay, To do the work that brought us all away. A captain bears a charge beyond his pride, He keeps the crew and purpose side by side. [Verse 2] You hang your gold and name one whale alone, As though this voyage were your private throne. We signed to hunt where honest profit lies, Not feed one wound beneath these open skies. [Chorus] I came to hunt for oil, to earn our pay, And bring these living men home safe one day. I serve the ship, the voyage and the crew, And tell you plainly what I know is true. [Verse 3] The whale you hate is only flesh at sea, It knows no oath, no feud, no enemy. To spend men's lives upon a single scar, Is not the work that brought us out this far. [Verse 4] Your wound is yours, though deeply it may burn, But every man aboard deserves return. Their homes lie waiting somewhere on the shore, Their lives are not the coin to settle score. [Chorus] I came to hunt for oil, to earn our pay, And bring these living men home safe one day. I serve the ship, the voyage and the crew, And tell you plainly what I know is true. [Verse 5] I speak because command must answer care, Because the lives below are ours to bear. A mate who sees a danger and stays still, Has traded judgement for another's will. [Verse 6] You hold command, and I respect your place, But duty must still govern any chase. I tell you now what conscience bids me say, A private wound must not command our way. [Chorus] I came to hunt for oil, to earn our pay, And bring these living men home safe one day. I serve the ship, the voyage and the crew, And tell you plainly what I know is true. [Outro] The gold may flash above us in the sun, Yet gold cannot make just what you have done. I came to hunt for oil across the foam, And guard the men I mean to bring back home.

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