Discover the story of the song > Save The Whales – Country Joe McDonald

The lyrics talk about a man's grandfather who dreamt of being a sailor and going out to sea to catch whales. The song reflects on how back in the past, there were many whales in the sea and they were killed for various purposes like ivory, perfume, and pet food. However, modern times have brought advanced ships and crews that use technology like sonar and exploding harpoons to kill whales more effectively. The song ends by questioning what kind of men these sailors are, as they go out and hunt whales.