Halyard Shanties

Haul Er Away! B

March 17, 2023February 20, 2023 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Haul Er Away! B

“Haul Er Away! B” it is the halyard song (long drag) shanty very close to “Cheerily Man”. The tune of this song according to Stan Hugill have common elements with the Jamaican song “Missy Ramgoat”, and “Hill an’ Gully Rider”. Both those songs have been featured in the film “Moby Dick”, and later spliced into the West Indian work song “Banana Boat” and turned into a “Pop” song. This version, also West Indies, part of this song appears in the Francis Allyn Olmsted book “Incidents of a Whaling Voyage” – 1840, so it appears to be fairly old.
This song will be reconstructed as the halyard (long drag) shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 317).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 317).

The Record of the Haul Er Away! B

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Haul Er Away! B

Young Sally Rackett, she shipped in a packet,
– HAUL ‘er away, oh, HAUL ‘er away!
Horraw, hooraw for ol’ Sally Racket,
– HAUL ‘er away, oh, HAUL ‘er away!

* 2 *

Miss Nancy Dawson, she’s got flannel drawers on!
Hooraw, horraw for ol’ Nancy Dawson,

* 3 *

Little Miss Muffet, she sat on a tuffet.
Hooraw, horraw for ol’ Miss Muffet,

* 4 *

Nancy Fernaner, she married a barber.
Hooraw, horraw for ol’ Nancy Fernaner,

* 5 *

Sussy Skinner, she sure is a winner.
Hooraw, horraw for ol’ Sussy Skinner,

* 6 *

Young Kitty Carson ran off with a parson.
Hooraw, horraw for ol’ Kitty Carson,

* 7 *

Ol’ Missus Ducket, she lived in a bucket.
Hooraw, horraw for ol’ Missus Ducket,

* 8 *

Betsy Baker, she married a Quaker.
Hooraw, horraw for ol’ Betsy Baker,

* 9 *

Polly Riddle, she broke her new fiddle.
Hooraw, horraw for ol’ Polly Riddle,

* 10 *

Little Miss Walker’s a hell o’ a talker.
Hooraw, horraw for ol’ Miss Walker,

* 11 *

We all love the gals, oh, rouse an’ shake ‘er,
Hooraw, horraw for the gals o’ Jamaicker!

Related to this sea shanty

Haul Er Away! A

March 17, 2023February 17, 2023 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Haul Er Away! A

“Haul Er Away! A” it is the halyard song (long drag) shanty very close to “Cheerily Man”. Under the title of “Sally Rackett” was well served as a cargo-working song among the timber stowers of Quebec and elsewhere. This song is of West Indian origin, hailing either from Barbados or Jamaica. Stan Hugill learned this beautiful song from Harding Barbadian from Barbados.
This song will be reconstructed as the halyard (long drag) shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 316).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 316, 317).

The Record of the Haul Er Away! A

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Haul Er Away! A

Little Nancy Dawson,
– Haul’ er away!
She’s got flannel drawers on,
– Haul’ er away!
So sez our ol’ Bosun,
– Haul’ er away!
Wid a hauley high-O!
– Haul’ er away!

* 2 *

Little Sally Rackett,
She shipped in a packet,
An’she never did regret it,
Wid a Hauley high-O!

* 3 *

Little Betty Baker
Ran off wid a Quaker,
Guess her Mum could shake ‘er,
Wid a hauley …

* 4 *

Little Susie Skinner
Sez she’s a beginner,
But prefers it to ‘er dinner.

* 5 *

Little Flo Fanana
Slipped on a banana,
Now she can’t play the pianner.

* 6 *

Little Rose Riddle
Broke her brand new fiddle,
Got a hole right in the middle.

* 7 *

Little Polly Walker
Ran offf with a hawker,
Oh, he was a corker.

* 8 *

Little Kitty Karson
Ran off with a parson,
Now sh’s got a little parson.

* 9 *

Little Dolly Duckett
Washes in a bucket,
She’s tart but doesn’t look it.

Related to this sea shanty

Cheerily Man – Sharp

March 17, 2023February 13, 2023 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Cheerily Man – Sharp

“Cheerily Man – Sharp” version from “English Folk Chanteys” by Cecil Sharp, and it is a halyard shanty (originally in Sharp’s book “Pulling Chantey”), it is probably the most primitive, and one of the oldest of all these heaving and hauling songs of the sea. This Sharp version is interesting in terms of having only three solos and three refrains. Unfortunately Sharp gives us only one verse of this beautiful song. Song was sung to Cecil Sharp by Mr. John Short, at Watched. Mr. Short says to Sharp, that was the first chantey he learned and he thought it must have been the “first chantey ever invented”.
This song will be reconstructed as the halyard long haul shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “English Folk Chanteys” by Cecil Sharp (1914) (1st ed: p 50).
The lyrics: English Folk Chanteys” by Cecil Sharp (1914) (1st ed: p 50).
Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 315).

The Record of the Cheerily Man – Sharp

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Cheerily Man

O………. o ly i o
– Cheerily man!
Walk him up o…………,
– Cheerily man!
O………. o ly i o, O………. o ly i o,
– Cheerily man!

Related to this sea shanty

Cheerily Man – Halyard

March 17, 2023February 6, 2023 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Cheerily Man – Halyard

“Cheerily Man – Halyard” is a halyard shanty, it is probably the most primitive, and one of the oldest of all these heaving and hauling songs of the sea. This song was really obscene, so most of the verses were camouflaged. The word “cheerily” means “quickly” and was often used at capstan and halyards when exhorting the men to harder efforts. “Cheerily” when used in shanties has to mean that heave or haul is slow and steady, this gives us the intuitive answer to the tempo which definitely suits long haul halyard shanty. This song will be reconstructed as the halyard long haul shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 310).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 310, 311).

The Record of the Cheerily Man – Halyard

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Cheerily Man

Oh, Nancy Dawson, aye yeo,
– Cheerily man!
So sez the Bosun, aye yeo-o,
– Cheerily man!
Has flannel drawers on, aye yeo-o,
– Cheerily man!
Oh, hauley aye yeo!
– Cheerily man!

* 2 *

Oh, Sally Racket, aye yeo!
In her pea-jacket, aye yeo!
Shipped in a packet, aye yeo!

* 3 *

Oh, Flora Fernanah
Slipped on a banana,
Can’t play the pianner.

* 4 *

Oh, Susie Skinner
Sez she’s beginner,
Prefers it to dinner.

* 5 *

Oh, Missus Duckett,
She’s kicked the bucket,
Oh, nip an’ tuck it.

* 6 *

Oh, Polly Riddle
Has a hole in the middle
Of her new fiddle.

* 7 *

Oh, Betty Baker,
Kissed by a Quaker,
Oh, rock ‘n’ shake ‘er.

* 8 *

Oh, Jenny Walker,
Kissed by a hawker,
He wuz a corker.

* 9 *

Oh, Jennifer Bell,
She drinks as well,
An’ never will tell.

* 10 *

Oh, Katie Karson
Slept with a parson,
She’s got a bar-son.

* 11 *

Oh, Polly Hawkins
In her white stockings
Has done some rockin’s.

* 12 *

Ooh, haughty cocks,
Ooh, split the blocks,
Ooh, stretch her luff.

* 13 *

Ooh, rouse ‘n’ shake ‘er.
Ooh, shake ‘n’ wake ‘er.
Ooh, go we’ll make ‘er.

* 14 *

Avast there, avast!
Make the fall fast,
Make it well fast.

Related to this sea shanty

Heave Away Boys Heave Away B

March 17, 2023January 23, 2023 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Heave Away Boys Heave Away B

“Heave Away Boys Heave Away B” is another song on Stan Hugill’s “Shanties From The Seven Seas” which opens the family of the shanties with the word “heave”, strangely, this song is not for to heave, it is the opposite, it is a hauling song specifically is the halyard shanty. This version is specifically of the West Indies origin. Stan Hugill learned this song from a shantyman known as Harry Lauder of St. Lucia, B.W.I in 1932. Stan Hugill has a theory that the word “heave” on this song comes from, that son in the past was used by Negro Stevedoores of Mobile Bay and elsewhere at the jackscrews when stowing cotton aboard the old wooden ships.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 309).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 309).

The Record of the Heave Away Boys Heave Away B

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Heave Away Boys Heave Away B

Oh! I love the sailor an’ the sailor loves me,
– HE–AVE away, boys, HE-AVE away!
He comes to my window ev’ry mornin’ at three,
– HE–AVEaway, boys, HE–AVE away!

* 2 *

An’ when we are happy we tolls de ol’bell,
An’ when we is sad yiz can all go to hell,

* 3 *

I love fat widow down Rotherhithe way,
An’ when she next sees me, to me she will say.

* 4 *

‘Oh, Johnny I’ve waited for you to return,
So I can spend freely all the money you earn.’

* 5 *

Oh, roll the ol’ chariot, long may she roll,
Why don’t the mate shake ‘er, oh, God damn his soul.

* 6 *

Oh, heave away, bullies, for ol’ Mobile Bay,
The gals there will help yer to spend yer pay-day.

* 7 *

When I was a young man an’ well in me prime,
I’d love all them yaller gals two at a time.

* 8 *

But now I’m an old man an, don’t feel so young,
I’d sooner have lashin’s an’ lashin’s o’ rum!

* 9 *

Oh, I,ve got a sister nine foot tall,
She sleeps in the kitchen with her feet in the hall.

Related to this sea shanty

Blow Boys Blow (odd verses)

Heave Away Boys Heave Away A

March 17, 2023January 19, 2023 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Heave Away Boys Heave Away A

“Heave Away Boys Heave Away A” is the first shanty on Stan Hugill’s “Shanties From The Seven Seas” which opens the family of the songs with the word “heave”, strangely enough, this song is not to heave, it is opposite hauling song specifically is the halyard shanty. This version is specifically of the West Indies origin. Stan Hugill learned this song from a colored seaman of St. Vincent, B.W.I.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 308).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 308).

The Record of the Heave Away Boys Heave Away A

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Heave Away Boys Heave Away A

Heave away, heave away, for the White Man’s dollars,
– HE–AVE away, boys, HE-AVE away!
Heave away, heave away, for the White Man’s dollars,
– HE–AVEaway, boys, HE–AVE away!

* 2 *

Heave away, heave away, for the merchant’s money,
Heave away, heave away for the merchant’s money,

* 3 *

Heave away, heave away, for the buckra’s silver,
Heave away, heave away, for the buckra’s silver,

* 4 *

Don’t let this money bring contention,
Don’t let this money bring contention,

* 5 *

Heave away, heave away an’ let’s get goin’,
Heave away, heave away an’ let’s get goin’,

Related to this sea shanty

Blow Boys Blow (B)

Hourra Mes Boués Hourra! (French)

Leave Her Johnny – Halyard

March 17, 2023December 15, 2022 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Leave Her Johnny – Halyard

“Leave Her Johnny Leave Her – Halyard” was a shanty that was used at pumps or capstan, also sometimes used as a halyard shanty. This version Stan Hugill learned from Liverpool seamen, and it has a slightly different tune, and of course, as a halyard shanty, it doesn’t have the grand chorus. However, it was mostly not used during the voyage due to the risk of being accused of mutiny by the singers, which was quite a serious risk as it was the unwritten rule of the merchant fleet that no serious complaints aloud about the captain or the job was allowed.

So, due to the lyrics of this song (many verses are unprintable), it was especially used at the end of the voyage, when the (especially wooden) ship was in port, and all that was left was the final clearing and pumping out the water from the bilge, then the sailors could complain freely and it was accepted by the captain. This reconstruction will be a halyard shanty, I added 4 additional verses from the capstan version of this shanty to make some sensible length at least long enough for a better understanding of the melody (In the book is only one vers).

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 297).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 297).

The Record of the Leave Her Johnny – Halyard

The musical notation

The full lyrics

Leave her Johnny (Halyard)

Oh, I thought I heard the Ol’ Man say,
– LEAVE her, Johnny, LEAVE her!
Oh, I thought I heard the Ol’ Man say,
– It’s TIME for us to LEAVE her!

* 2 *

The work wuz hard an’ the voyage wuz long,
The sea wuz high an’ the gales wuz strong.

* 3 *

The grub wuz bad an’ the wages low,
But now once more ashore we’ll go.

* 4 *

The winds wuz foul, all work, no pay,
To Liverpool Docks from ‘Frisco Bay.

* 5 *

The Old Man swears an’ the mate swears to,
The crew all swear, an’ so would you.

Related to this sea shanty

Whisky Johnny D

Hanging Johnny