Folk Antarctica

Sledging Songs
Doggy Ditties
Explorers' Laments

by

Peter Noble

Halley Bay
Dec '66 - Jan '69

Out in the Cold, Cold Snow (June 68)

Gracie Fields sang the original, indeed the chorus is the same. Hers was a humorous contemplation of suicide when all hope had gone perfect for June '68!

We left Halley Bay last September
Our objective we did all know
We would recce fresh tracks, a new route to the Shacks
Out in the cold, cold snow

Chorus:
Out in the cold, cold snow
Out where the cold winds blow
No one to love us and nowhere to go
Out in the cold, cold snow

For weeks we were pushed further eastward
'Twas hardly the route for a crow
When new year came round, we were sledging new ground
Out in the cold, cold snow

At last we spied rock cliffs and mountains
Just fifty miles distant or so
But success got the boot when BAS cancelled the route
Out in the cold, cold snow

There's a depot way down by the Slessor
Alone like a dame with B.O.
But for us its no use when the kegs got no juice
Out in the cold, cold snow

We then turned our eyes to the eastward
Laid depots and flags in a row
Equipment galore in one more useless store
Out in the cold, cold snow

With aircraft to Shacks, kegs to Tottans
The programme is like a yo-yo
You won't think it a farce, when you're sat on your arse
Out in the cold, cold snow

Vestfjella, Shackletons, Therons
Oh where will we finally go?
The answer is plain, so just take up the strain
Out in the cold, cold snow

Folk Antarctica


18 December 2001
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