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Story: Folk, country and blues music

'Whalers of the deep deep sea', 1852

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'Whalers of the deep deep sea', 1852

This is the cover of the sheet music for 'Whalers of the deep deep sea'. The lyrics of the song were written by Mrs St. George, set to a melody composed by Te Heu Heu, presumably Iwikau Te Heuheu Tūkino III, ariki (high chief) of Ngāti Tūwharetoa. The lyrics were based on the shanties sung by the whalers who frequented New Zealand's coast in the first half of the 19th century. The cover illustration is from a painting by Auckland artist Joseph Merrett.

Using this item

Hocken Collections, University of Otago

Reference: S13-326a

Permission of the Hocken Collections Uare Taoka o Hakena, University of Otago, must be obtained before any re-use of this image. Further information may be obtained from the Library through its website.

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How to cite this page

Chris Bourke, Folk, country and blues music – Folk music – the voice of the people, 1790s to 1920s, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/document/42427/whalers-of-the-deep-deep-sea-1852 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Chris Bourke, published 4 September 2013.