31. We Must Find That Boy | Act IV: The Last Ways Home

[Verse 1]
The Rachel drew beside us through the spray,
Her captain sought a boat gone far astray.
His son was in it, somewhere out of sight,
He searched the empty waters with his might.

[Verse 2]
I know the sea can swallow any cry,
And leave no mark beneath the open sky.
I've laughed at storms and weathered many a gale,
But now my ready humour starts to fail.

[Chorus]
We must find that boy before the light is gone,
His missing boat may still be drifting on.
Let the whale wait while we search the sea,
A father's hope demands this much of me.

[Verse 3]
I told young Pip I'd never lose the chase,
And left him drifting in that dreadful place.
I called it work and left him to the tide,
That choice is something laughter cannot hide.

[Verse 4]
Captain, one child is missing in the spray,
Give us the boats to search while there's still day.
We've hands enough to sweep the rolling foam,
Perhaps those hands can bring the lost boy home.

[Chorus]
We must find that boy before the light is gone,
His missing boat may still be drifting on.
Let the whale wait while we search the sea,
A father's hope demands this much of me.

[Verse 5]
I hear your answer, Captain, hard and cold,
The hunt is still the only course you'll hold.
A boy may still be waiting out of sight,
Yet you will leave him to the coming night.

[Verse 6]
My pipe lies cold; my ready jokes fall still,
Before the weight of one man's hardened will.
The Rachel falls astern, and we sail away,
And all my wit has nothing left to say.

[Chorus]
We must find that boy before the light is gone,
His missing boat may still be drifting on.
Let the whale wait while we search the sea,
A father's hope demands this much of me.

[Outro]
A father's voice still reaches me at sea,
Though all I gave was one unanswered plea.
The Rachel searches where we would not stay,
And I must watch the Pequod sail away.

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[The Scene] With Queequeg’s former coffin now serving as a life-buoy, the Pequod encounters another whaling ship, the Rachel. Her desperate captain appeals for help searching for a missing whaleboat carrying his young son. Stubb, remembering how he once abandoned Pip in pursuit of a whale, recognises the terrible danger facing the missing boy and urges Ahab to assist. For once, his usual humour and concern for the catch give way to genuine compassion. Yet Ahab refuses to interrupt his pursuit of Moby Dick, dismissing the captain’s plea despite the suffering before him. The Pequod sails onward, leaving the Rachel to continue searching alone, while Stubb confronts the uncomfortable consequences of placing the hunt above human life. [Verse 1] The Rachel drew beside us through the spray, Her captain sought a boat gone far astray. His son was in it, somewhere out of sight, He searched the empty waters with his might. [Verse 2] I know the sea can swallow any cry, And leave no mark beneath the open sky. I've laughed at storms and weathered many a gale, But now my ready humour starts to fail. [Chorus] We must find that boy before the light is gone, His missing boat may still be drifting on. Let the whale wait while we search the sea, A father's hope demands this much of me. [Verse 3] I told young Pip I'd never lose the chase, And left him drifting in that dreadful place. I called it work and left him to the tide, That choice is something laughter cannot hide. [Verse 4] Captain, one child is missing in the spray, Give us the boats to search while there's still day. We've hands enough to sweep the rolling foam, Perhaps those hands can bring the lost boy home. [Chorus] We must find that boy before the light is gone, His missing boat may still be drifting on. Let the whale wait while we search the sea, A father's hope demands this much of me. [Verse 5] I hear your answer, Captain, hard and cold, The hunt is still the only course you'll hold. A boy may still be waiting out of sight, Yet you will leave him to the coming night. [Verse 6] My pipe lies cold; my ready jokes fall still, Before the weight of one man's hardened will. The Rachel falls astern, and we sail away, And all my wit has nothing left to say. [Chorus] We must find that boy before the light is gone, His missing boat may still be drifting on. Let the whale wait while we search the sea, A father's hope demands this much of me. [Outro] A father's voice still reaches me at sea, Though all I gave was one unanswered plea. The Rachel searches where we would not stay, And I must watch the Pequod sail away.

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