Little Pot Stove
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Originally titled "Wee Pot Stove", this song was written by Scottish/Australian seaman, engineer, and folk musician Harry Robertson, and released on his 1971 album Whale Chasing Men: Songs of Whaling in Ice and Sun.
After first working with airplane engines, Robertson became a marine engineer, first with the Royal Navy and later with commercial operations, eventually signing on for two seasons in 1950-51 with the Norwegian/Scottish whaling company Christian Salvesen and deploying to their sub-Antarctic Leith Harbour whaling station. The song was inspired by his experience of winter at the station, where, largely cut off from the outside world, the crew would repair and re-equip the company's ships in preparation for the next season, and in the evenings, might gather around a warm stove to drink, socialize, and sing.[1]
The Longest Johns released a YouTube cover of the song on 23 August 2023, and it was later included on Caught in the Net Vol 1, released 18 October 2024..
Factoids
Though whale oil was originally sought mostly for lighting fuel and industrial applications, by the late 19th century, these uses were largely supplanted by petroleum, and in search of a new market, the whaling industry pivoted to the newly invented margarine. Despite the sometimes noticeable fishy taste, by 1935, 84% of the world's whale oil supply was going into margarine.[2]
Leith Harbour whaling station operated from 1909 until it was abandoned in 1965 due to the decline of the whaling industry. Though many of its buildings still stand, access to the site has been prohibited since 2010 due to hazardous conditions; it is now mostly occupied by seals.[3]
In the mid-1950s, Robertson settled in Australia and grew increasingly active in the local folk music scene, eventually helping to organize some of the country's first National Folk Festivals.[4]
Lyrics
As performed in the music video. Original lyrics here.
{Chorus}
In that wee dark engine room where the chill seeps through your soul
How we huddled 'round that little pot stove that burned oily rags and coal
How the winter blizzards blow when the whaling fleet's at rest
Tucked in Leith Harbour's sheltered bay, safely anchored ten abreast
The sailors at their stations as from ship to ship they go
Carry little bags of coal with them and a little iron stove
{Chorus}
The fireman Paddy works with me on the engines stiff and cold
A stranger to the truth is he; there's not a lie he hasn't told
Well, he told me of his goldmine and of all the hearts he'd won
And his bonnie sense of humour shone just like a ray of sun
{Chorus}
We laboured seven days a week with cold hands and frozen feet
The bitter days and lonely nights, making grog and having fights
Salt fish and whale meat sausage, fresh penguin eggs a treat
And we trudged along to work each day through icy wind and sleet
{Chorus}
And then one day we saw the sun and the whaling fleet return
Meet your old friends, sing a song, pray the season won't be long
Then it's homeward bound when it's over, yes we'll leave this icy hole
But I always will remember that little iron stove
{Chorus}
Recordings
Stream/Purchase
YouTube Videos
- ↑ https://www.harryrobertson.net/WeePotStove.html
- ↑ https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-is-margarine-made-of
- ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2014/jun/10/britains-whale-hunters-in-pictures
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Robertson_(folk_singer)#Return_to_U.K._then_migration_to_Australia