Interesting Facts about the Heave Away Me Johnnies C
“Heave Away Me Johnnies C” initially was a genuine brake-windlass shanty. Brake-windlass work was too heavy to move levers up and down, so movement from top to bottom has mid-step on the waist. The usual timing used was 2/4 or 6/8. This particular version is the ‘milkmaid’ version, a very popular theme in many shanties. This milkmaid version is very close to Cecil Sharp ones. Stan Hugill gives to us only five verses due to most of the verses from this version were unprintable.
The source of this sea shanty
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 303).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 307).
The Record of the Heave Away Me Johnnies C
You also can find this record on my YouTube channel here or directly listen below. Additionally, if you want to share your opinion about the record or share your opinion you can do it in my Facebook forum here, or leave a comment at the bottom of this blog article.
The musical notation
And the full lyrics
Heave Away Me Johnnies C
As I walked out one mornin’ fair, all in the month of May,
– Heave away ay ay, me Johnnies, heave away-away!
I overhauled a pretty maid and unto her did say,
– An away me bully boys, we’re all bound to go!
* 2 *
‘Oh, where are ye goin’ to, my pretty maid?’ I unto her did say.
‘I’m going a milking, sir,’ she said, all in the month of May.
* 3 *
‘Shall I go with you, my pretty maid?’ I unto her did say.
‘Oh, yes, if you please, kind sir,’ she said, all in the month of May.
* 4 *
‘Oh, what is your father, my pretty maid?, I unto her did say.
‘My father’s farmer, kind sir,’ she said, all in the month of May.
* 5 *
‘Oh, what is your fortune, my pretty maid? I unto her did say.
‘My face is my fortune, sir,’ she said, all in the month of May.