Shanties, Sea Songs, and all that kind of stuff.
Songs
H - K
Hanging Johnny
Haul Away For Rosie
Haul Away Joe
Haul Boys Haul
Haul On The Bowline
Heart Of Oak
Heave Away Boys Heave Away
Heave Away Me Johnnies
He Ho Down Below
High Barbary
Hilo Johnny Hilo
Hogeye Man
Holy Ground
Home Boys Home
Homewrd Bound
Hullaboo Belay
Icy Acres
I Once Was A Fisherman
I's The B'y
It's Fun Being A Pirate
John Chrokee
John Kanaka
Johnny Come Down To Hilo
Johnson Girls
Joli Rouge
Hanging Johnny
Oh they call me Hangin' Johnny
Chorus: Away, boys, away
But I never hanged nobody
Chorus: And it's hang, boys, hang
Well, first I hanged me mother
Chorus: Away, boys, away
Me sister and me brother
Chorus: And it's hang, boys, hang
Well, next I hanged me granny
Chorus: Away, boys, away
Well, I'd hang the holy family
Chorus: And it's hang, boys, hang
Well I never hangs for money
Chorus: Away, boys, away
It's just that hangin's so bloody funny
Chorus: And it's hang, boys, hang
Oh they calls me Hangin' Johnny
Chorus: Away, boys, away
But I never hanged nobody
Chorus: And it's hang, boys, hang
Haul Away for Rosie
You may talk about your Bootle girls, like round the corner sally
Chorus: Way haul away, we’ll haul away for Rosie
But none can push a jug like the girls of dog leg alley
Chorus: Way haul away, we’ll haul away for Rosie o
Once I had an Irish girl her name was kitty Flanagan
She stole me boots she stole me boots, she stole me plate and pannikin
Then I had a gypsy girl her mother called her Molly
And sometimes she got drunk at nights and sometimes only jolly
Then I had an English girl, she wasn’t very sporty
Everything I asked of her she said it was too naughty
And then I had a Baltimore girl and when she took the notion
She’d rise and fall as steady as the waves upon the ocean
Once in my life I married a wife, damn her she was lazy
She wouldn’t stay at home at nights, it bloody near drove me crazy
Stayed out all night o what a sight, where do think I found her?
Behind of the pub with sheets hauled up and twenty men around her
Haul Away Joe
When I was just a little lad well so my mammy told me,
Chorus: Way haul away, we'll haul away Joe
That if I didn't kiss the girls, my lips would all grow mouldy,
Chorus: Way haul away, we'll haul away Joe
Chorus:
Way, haul away, we,ll haul away together
Way, haul away, we'll haul away Joe
Way, haul away, we'll haul for better weather,
Way, haul away, we'll haul away Joe
First I met a Yankee girl and she was fat and lazy,
Then I met an Irish girl, she damn near drove me crazy,
King Louis was the king of France before the revolution,
But then he got his head cut off, which spoiled his constitution,
The cook is in his galley a makin duffs so dandy
The captain's in his captain a drinking wine and brandy
Hey can't you see the black clouds arising
Hey can,t you see the storm clouds a'gathering
There are many more verses
Haul Boys Haul
Now when I was a schoolboy I lived at home at ease
Now I am a trawlin´ man, I sail the wintry seas
I thought I´d like seafarin´ life, it´s all right ´til I found
It´s a damned sight worse than slavery when we got off the ground
And it was
Chorus:
Haul, boys haul. Haul, boys haul
Heave away the capstan, lads, and let´s get up the trawl
When the winds a´ blowin´, the ship´s a gently rollin´
My Emma, my Emma, won´t you be true to me
Now every night in winter, as regular as a clock
It´s on with yer old Sou'wester, likewise your oilskin frock
An then up to the capstan lads and then we´ll heave away
Well that´s the cry in the middle of the night as well as in the day
And it was
No when the fish are up on deck, a pilin´ to our knees
We slip and slide and wonder why we ever went to sea
But then ashore we sell the catch. That´s easier to bear
For it´s beer all night in the ladies arms when we get paid our share
And it was
With winter passin´ over and springtime comin´ on
We go out in all weathers, no time for beer or song
For the fish don´t wait for lovers, as you might quickly find
Put on your oilskin jacket lad and leave the girls behind
And it was
And when out trip is over, hard up the tiller goes
And straight way into Yarmouth with a big jib on her nose
And when we reach the pierhead, all the girls will loudly say
Here comes our jolly trawlin´ lads that have been so long away
And it was
Chorus:
Haul, boys haul. Haul, boys haul
Heave away the capstan, lads, and let´s get up the trawl
When the winds a´ blowin´, the ship´s a gently rollin´
My Emma, my Emma, won´t you be true to me
My Emma, my Emma, won´t you be true to me
Haul on the Bowline
Haul on the bowline, Kitty is my darling
Chorus:
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!
Haul on the bowline, Kitty comes from Liverpool
Haul on the bowline, homeward we are going
Haul on the bowline, for Liverpool's a fine town
Haul on the bowline, so earlie in the morning
Haul on the bowline, afore the day is dawning
Haul on the bowline, the Cape Horn gales are howlin'
Haul on the bowline, the cook he is a growlin'
Haul on the bowline, we'll either break or bend it
Haul on the bowline, and we're the men to mend it
Haul on the bowline, we'll bust the chafin' leather
Haul on the bowline, we'll haul away together
Heart of Oak
Come cheer up my Lads, 'tis to glory we steer,
To add something more to this wonderful year.
To honour we call you, as freemen, not slaves,
For who are so free as the sons of the waves?
Chorus:
Heart of oak are our ships, jolly tars are our men,
We always are ready, Steady, boys, steady,
We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again!
We ne'er see our foes but we wish them to stay,
They never see us but they wish us away.
If they run, why, we follow and run them ashore,
For if they won't fight us, we cannot do more.
Chorus:
Heart of oak are our ships, jolly tars are our men,
We always are ready, Steady, boys, steady,
We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again!
They swear they'll invade us, these terrible foes;
They frighten women, children, and beaus,
But should their flat bottoms in darkness get o'er,
Still Britons they'll find to receive them on shore.
Chorus:
Heart of oak are our ships, jolly tars are our men,
We always are ready, Steady, boys, steady,
We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again!
We'll still make them fear, and we'll still make them flee,
And drub 'em on shore as we've drubb'd 'em at sea,
Then cheer up my lads, with one hear let us sing,
Our Soldiers, our Sailors, our Statesmen, our King.
Chorus:
Heart of oak are our ships, jolly tars are our men,
We always are ready, Steady, boys, steady,
We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again!
We'll still make 'em run, and we'll still make 'em sweat,
In spite of the Devil and Brussels Gazette,
Then cheer up my lads, with one heart let us sing,
Our Soldiers, our Sailors, our Statesmen, our King.
Chorus:
Heart of oak are our ships, jolly tars are our men,
We always are ready, Steady, boys, steady,
We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again!
Heave Away Boys Heave Away
Oh I love a sailor and a sailor loves me
Chorus: Heave away boys, heave away
He comes to my window ev'ry morning at three
Chorus: Heave away boys, heave away
And when we is happy we tolls the old bell
And when we is sad youse can all go to hell
I love a fat widow down Rotherhithe way
And when she next sees me, to me she'll say
Oh Johnny I've waited for you to return
So I can spend freely the money you've earned
Oh I have a sister and she's nine feet tall
She sleeps in the kitchen with her feet in the hall
When I was young and well in my prime
I'd chase them yeller girls all of the time
But now that I'm older I don't feel so young
I'd sooner have lashings and lashings of rum
Oh roll the old chariot and long may she roll
Why don't the mate shake her oh god damn his soul
Heave Away me Johnnies
Oh there's some that's bound for New York town
and some that's bound for France
Chorus: Heave away me Johnnies, heave away
And there's some that's bound for the Bengal Bay
to teach them whales a dance
Chorus: Heave away me Johnny boys, we're all bound to go!
In a couple of days we'll be outward bound
and down the river we'll slip
And the girls will all be waiting there,
when we get back next trip
Oh it's goodbye all you Kingston girls,
goodbye St Andrew's Dock
And if ever we come back again
we'll make your cradles rock
Oh it's goodbye Susie-Anna
and it's farewell for a while
Just think us amongst the storms
around the coast of Chile
Oh the pilot he's awaiting
for the turning of the tide
And soon me boys we'll outward bound
on a brisk and westering wind
So come all you deep sea sail-aye-ars
that round the cape of storms
Be sure your boots and oilskins
or you'd wish you'd never been born
So gaily raise your voices boys,
me bullies heave and bust
'Taint no use a caterwauling,
growl you may, but go you must
He Ho Down Below
Words: © 1995 Marian Woestenburg; Music: © 1995 Ger Lamerus
From the group Drifhout (Driftwood) from the island of Vlieland in the Netherlands.
Hear me out you sailor man
Try to listen if you can
Have you ever wondered noe
What makes this lady go?
Chorus:
Hé, ho down below
Dust and coal, dust and coal
Hé, ho down below
Our ship got to go.
Deep down in this lady’s womb
The poor sods of the engine room
Working in this flaming Hell,
Our ship has got to go!
The sun will never shine down there
We never breath the salty air
We never feel the wind that blows
Our ship has got to go!
And when we are going for the worst
The first mate he will swear and curse
And we will always get the blame
Our ship has got to go!
Although we never seen a soul
Better than being on the dole
God let me sail until I’m old
Our ship has got to go!
High Barbary
There were two lofty ships, from old England came
Chorus: Blow high, blow low, And so sail we
One was the Prince of Luther and the other Prince of Wales
Chorus: Sailin' down the coast of High Barbary
Aloft there, aloft our jolly bosun cried
Look ahead, look astern, look the weather look a-lee"
There's naught upon the stern, There's naught upon our lee
But there's a lofty ship to windward an' she's sailin' fast and free
Oh hail her, oh hail her our gallant Captain cried
Are you an man of war or privateer he cried
I am not a man-o-war, or a privateer, " said he
But I am a salt sea pirate a looking for me fee
For broadside, for broadside a long time we lay
Until the Prince of Luther shot the pirate's mast away
With cutlass and gunfire we fought them hours three
But their ship it was their coffin and their grave it was the sea
For quarter, for quarter those vanquished pirates cried
But the answer that we gave them we sunk them in the tide
Hilo Johnnie Hilo
I used to work down Mobile Bay but I got in debt and ran away.
Chorus: Johnny come down to Hilo, pull down below.
Away down South where I was born among the fields of yeller corn
Chorus: Johnny come down to Hilo, pull down below.
Chorus:
Oh Hilo, Johnny, Hilo, I wonder what’s the matter now.
Johnny come down to Hilo, pull down below.
Oh Mobile Bay’s no place for me, I’ll pack my bags and go to sea.
Was you ever in Mobile Bay, screwin’ cotton by the day?
Growl you may but go you must, if you growl too much your head’ll bust.
Hilo, Johnny, Hilo, I wonder what’s the matter now.
Hogeye Man
Hand me down my riding cane
I'm off to see my darling Jane,
Chorus:
With yer hogeye
Row the boat ashore with yer hogeye
Steady on the jigger with yer hogeye Oh
She want's the hogeye man
The hogeye man is the man for me
He comes down from Tennessee
He came to the shop where Sally did dwell
He knocked on her door and he rang her bell
Oh who's been here since I've been gone?
A railroad navvy with his seaboots on
If I catch him here with me Sal once more
I'll pack my bags and go to sea once more
Sally's in the garden shelling peas
Hair on her head hanging down to her knees
Sally's in the garden sifting sand
The hogeye man sitting in her hand
Sally's in the kitchen punching duff
Cheeks of her arse going chuff, chuff, chuff
I won't wed a hogeye, buggered if I'll do
He's got jiggers on his feet and he can't wear shoes
The hogeye man is the man for me,
He is blind and he cannot see
A hogeye ship and a hogeye crew,
A hogeye mate and the skipper too.
Holy Ground
Fare thee well, my lovely Dinah, a thousand times adieu.
We are bound away from the Holy Ground and the girls we love so true.
We'll sail the salt seas over and we'll return once more,
And still I live in hope to see the Holy Ground once more.
Chorus:
(Shouted line) Fine girl you are!
You're the girl that I adore,
And still I live in hope to see
the Holy Ground once more.
Now when we're out a-sailing and you are far behind
Fine letters will I write to you with the secrets of my mind,
The secrets of my mind, my girl, you're the girl that I adore,
And still I live in hope to see the Holy Ground once more.
Oh now the storm is raging and we are far from shore;
The poor old ship she's sinking fast and the riggings they are tore.
The night is dark and dreary, we can scarcely see the moon,
But still I live in hope to see the Holy Ground once more.
It's now the storm is over and we are safe on shore
We'll drink a toast to the Holy Ground and the girls that we adore.
We'll drink strong ale and porter and we'll make the taproom roar,
And when our money is all spent we'll go to sea once more.
Home Boys Home
Well who wouldn't be a sailor lad a-sailing on the main
To gain the good will of his captain's good name?
He came ashore one evening for to see
And that was the beginning of my own true love and me.
Chorus:
And it's home, boys, home, home I'd like to be,
Home for a while in my own count-ry,
Where the oak and the ash and the bonny rowan tree,
Are all a-growing greener in the old country.
Well I asked her for a candle to light my way to bed
Likewise for a handkerchief to tie around my head
She tended to my needs like a young maid ought to do
So then I says to her: "Now won't you jump in with me too?"
Well she jumped into bed, making no alarm
Thinking a young sailor lad could do to her no harm.
Well I hugged her and I kissed her the whole night long,
Till she wished the short night had been seven years long.
Well early next morning the sailor lad arose
And into Mary's apron threw a handful of gold
Saying: "Take this my dear for the damage that I've done
For tonight I fear I've left you with a daughter or a son."
"Well if it be a girl child send her out to nurse
With gold in her pocket and with silver in her purse.
and if it be a boy child he'll wear the jacket blue
And go climbing up the rigging like his daddy used to do."
And so, come all of you fair maidens, a warning take by me
Never let a sailor lad an inch above your knee
For I trusted one and he beguiled me
He left me with a pair of twins to dandle on my knee
Homeward Bound
We're Homeward bound to Liverpool Town
Chorus:
Goodbye, fare-ye-well! Goodbye, fare-ye-well!
Where all them judies, they will come down
Chorus:
Hurrah me boys! We're homeward bound!
We're homeward bound for the girls of the town
So stand up me hearties and heave her around
We're a fine flashy packet, we're bound for to go
With the girls on the tow rope we cannot say NO
And one to the other you'll hear them say
Oh, here he comes Johnny with his fourteen months pay!
Oh those girls on Lime Street we soon hope to meet
Soon we'll be rollin' both sides of the street
Oh we'll meet these fine girls and we'll ring the old bell
With the girls that we meet we'll raise bloody hell
Oh I'll tell me old woman when I gets back home
The gir;s there on Lime Street won't leave me alone
Oh we're homeward bound, I'll have yah to know
It's over the water to Liverpool we'll go!
Hullabaloo Belay
Curiously made popular by Berl Ives.
V, Me mother had a boarding house,
Chorus: Hullabaloo belay.
Hullabaloo bela belay,
V. Me mother had a boarding house
Chorus: Hullabaloo belay.
The boarding house was on the quay
Hullabaloo belay.
Hullabaloo bela belay,
And all the boarders were out to sea.
Hullabaloo belay.
A fresh young fellow called Shallow Brown…
Hullabaloo belay.
Hullabaloo bela belay,
Would follow me mother all ’round the town…
Hullabaloo belay.
One day when father was in the Crown…
Hullabaloo belay.
Hullabaloo bela belay,
Me mother ran off with Shallo Brown…
Hullabaloo belay.
Me father said. “Young man, me boy…”
Hullabaloo belay.
Hullabaloo bela belay,
To which he quickly made reply…
Hullabaloo belay.
My father slowly pined away…
Hullabaloo belay.
Hullabaloo bela belay,
Because me mother came back the next day…
Hullabaloo belay.
Icy Acres
By Colin Wilkie
(Chorus after each verse)
Fare ye well, ye icy acres
Fare ye well, ye whaling grounds
Fare ye well, ye banks of Greenland
Weary whalers homeward bound
Homeward breezes round us blossom
Where the oak and the apple grows
God forgot the green in Greenland
He made the flowers of ice and snow
Home where grasses lace the meadows
Where the river's running free
And the waters sweetly flowing
Turns towards the open sea
Six long months we've been a-hunting
Through a hell of frozen flame
Now our hearts like sails are billowing
As we turn for home again.
I once was a Fisherman
Written by Barry Dransfield
There's gold in the channel when the sun lights the sea,
But the boats are all pulled up and stranded like me.
I once was a fisherman, now come ashore
'Cause they won't let us go to sea anymore,
Chorus (after each verse):
To sea anymore,
No they won't let us go to sea anymore.
In the old town of Hastings the people can see
Our sheds and our tackle—it puts them at ease.
And we make a fine sight from above Rock-a-Nore
But they won't let us go to sea anymore,
And isn't it crazy—when we are so strong,
That we can't fight the bullies that are doing us wrong?
But you can't fight the faceless—the ghosts of the law
And they won't let us go to sea anymore,
Now I have a son and he's nearly sixteen,
A fishing family we always have been,
And it fills me with sorrow that he'll stay ashore
'Cause they won't let us go to sea anymore,
I's the B'y
Traditional Newfoundland
I's the b'ye that builds the boat,
And I's the b'ye that sails her
I's the b'ye that catches the fish,
And brings 'em home to Lizer
Chorus:
Hip yer partner, Sally Tibbo,
Hip yer partner, Sally Brown
Fogo, Twillingate, Moreton's Harbour,
All around the circle!
Sods and rinds to cover your flake,
Cake and tea for supper
Codfish in the spring o' the year,
Fried in maggoty butter.
I don't want your maggoty fish,
They're no good for winter
Well I could buy as good as that,
Down in Bonavista.
I took Liza to a dance,
As fast as she could travel
And every step that she did take,
Was up to her knees in gravel.
Susan White, she's out of sight,
Her petticoat wants a border
Well Old Sam Oliver in the dark,
He kissed her in the corner.
I's the b'ye that builds the boat,
And I's the b'ye that sails her
I's the b'ye that catches the fish,
And brings 'em home to Lizer
It's Fun Being a Pirate
Written by Alan Griffiths 2010 and sung at every Hastings Pirate Day since.
Chorus:
It's fun being a pirate, as everybody knows,
the rum the beer the yo ho ho, but best of all the clothes.
The Jolly Rogers up aloft, the sails are all let out,
There's a ship just hove in view, let's go and sort her out.
I left me home and went to sea many years ago,
And took up with a pirate ship, down in Valipo,
We robbed and plundered merchantmen, and sent them on their way,
'cos we're a jolly pirate crew, and this is just our way.
We spend our loot on rum and girls, and girls and girls and gin,
Then it's off to sea once more a pirating again.
Two fingers to his majesty, and all his boys in blue
for we're a jolly pirate crew and this is what we do.
I've got one arm, a wooden leg, and only half an ear,
It's what you get from pirating, but I don't have a care,
Our swords are sharp' our pistols loud, our clothes they are so gay.
Cos we're a jolly pirate crew and this is just our way.
(Spoken. Now for the sad bit)
Me wooden leg has got the worm, the others got the gout,
Me hooks fell off, me clothes is torn, me hair is falling out.
Should I stay a pirating, or should I go ashore?
Or should I spend my time on land and go to sea no more?
I love the deck beneath me feet, the wind blowing in me face,
A bottle of rum in each hand, a coat sowed full of lace.
I think I'll stay a pirating until me days are done,
Cos pirating's a way of life, and loads of bloody,) fun.
As many choruses as you like to conclude.
John Cherokee
One of many versions
This is the story of John Cherokee,
Chorus: Alabama John Cherokee
Indian man from Mirramashee,
Chorus: Alabama John Cherokee
Chorus (after each verse):
Way, ay, yah ugh!
Alabama John Cherokee
Way, ay, yah ugh!
Alabama John Cherokee
They made him a slave in old Alabam',
He run away every time he can.
They shipped him 'board of a whaling ship,
Again an' again, he gave 'em the slip.
They catched him and they chained him tight,
Stowed him below without a light.
And he got nothing to eat or drink,
Soon his bones they starts to shrink.
And now his ghost is often seen
Up on the main truck all wet and green.
So that is thee tale of John Cherokee,
Indianman from Mirramashee.
John Kanaka
The shanty man sings a line, the crowd responds with
Chorus. John Kanakanaka too lei ai
The Too lei ai, oh too lei ai, is sung by the shantyman alone.
Many sing Too Rei Ai. It's wrong. Polynesians cannot pronounce their R's, so it's Too LEI ai.
I though I heard the old man say
Chorus: John Kanakanaka too lei ai
Today' today's and 'oliday
Chorus: John Kanakanaka too lei ai
Too lei ai oh too lei ai
Chorus: John Kanakanaka too lei ai
There's work tomorro', but not work today
'cos today, today's an 'oliday
We're outward bound from London town
Where all the Judies they come down
We're outward bound at break of day
We're outward bound for 'Frisco Bay
The bo'sun says “Before I’m through
You’ll curse your mother for having you”
We're outward bound around cape horn
Where you wish to god you'd not been born
We're a Yankee ship with a Yankee crew
And we're the boys to kick her through
And when we get to 'Frisco Bay
We'll pay off ship and make our pay
So haul oh haul oh haul away
Haul away and make your pay
I thought I heard the old man say
Just one more pull and then belay
Johny Come Down to Hilo
Alternative title is Wake Her Shake Her
I never seen the like since I bin born,
A pretty gal asleep with a blue dress on
Chorus:
(When) Johnny come down to Hilo!
Poor old man!
Oh! wake her! Oh! shake her!
Oh! wake that gal with the blue dress on!
When Johnny comes down to Hilo!
Poor old man!
That gal she looked so good to me
But I'd bin ten long months at sea
Them Hilo girls they act so fine
They ain't got Jesus on their minds
My girl's got class, my girl's got style
For a dollar a time it's all worth while
A dollar goes from hand to hand
And my girl goes from man to man
My old man, me uncle Ned
He's got no hair on the top of his head
Her eyes were blue her lips were red
Her hair had curls but they weren't on her head
Gonna tie her up in a 'tater sack
So she'll be true 'til I get back
So roust 'er up be quick I say
An' make yer port an' take yer pay
Johnson Girls
A net hauling song. After each chorus line there is a short silence of 4 beats, this was when the actual hauling of the net was done.
Johnson girls is mighty fine girls
Chorus: Walk around, honey, walk around
(Not sung: 'one and two and three and four')
Johnson girls is mighty fine girls
Chorus: Walk around, honey, walk around.
(Not sung: one and two and three and four)
Neat in the waist and got mighty fine legs
Neat in the waist and got mighty fine legs.
Great big legs and teeny-eensy feet
Great big legs and teeny-eensy feet.
Beef steak, beef steak, make a little gravy
Your thing, my thing, make a little baby.
Way down south they got the jewmaka jam
Hot as cayenne but good, God Damn.
Johnson girls is mighty fine girls
Johnson girls is mighty fine girls.
Joli Rouge
By the Dreadnaughts
From France we get the Brandy
From Martinique the rum
Sweet red Cabernet
From Italy does come
But the fairest of ‘em all me boys
The one to beat the day
Is made from apples
Up the mighty Saguenay
Chorus:
So, follow me lads
‘cause this 'ain't no grog or ale
One pint down you'll be swingin’ in the gale
Five pints bully, you’ll be shakin' in your shoes
We're half-seas over on the Joli Rouge
She's called the Dreadnought Cider
She's proper and she's fine
And when the day is over
Sure, I wish that she were mine
Or in the dark of winter, or on a summer's eve
One hand giveth and the other doth receive
So turn your sails over
And bring her hard to port
Find that little star and fly
Straight into the north
The wild sun upon your back
The wind a-blowing free
You're rolling down the river boys
To old Chicoutimi
So you can have a Magners
And pour it over ice
Or you can have a Strongbow
If it's sadness that you like
Or join us up the river
And we'll set your heart aglow
And how you'll feel
When the real cider starts to flow