Heave Away Cheerily O!

Interesting Facts about the Heave Away Cheerily O!

“Heave Away Cheerily O!” is another song from Stan Hugill’s book from the group containing the word “heave”. Stan Hugill learned his version from Geordie’s shipmate in the twenties. Stan Hugill doesn’t declare where this song has been used on board, however, tells us about Davis & Tozer, and also Harlow’s versions which were anchor songs or capstan/pumps songs. Additional information we know from Stan Hugill is that Geordie, his friend, always sang the word “cheerily” as “cherrilye” in accordance with typical sailor usage when singing any word ending with “-ly”. I reconstruct this song as the pump shanty.


One more issue is that Stan Hugill suggested that this song was published in the first edition of the Davis & Tozer book, which is not true because I have a copy of this book and in the first set of 24 shanties from the book this shanty not appeared. I cannot confirm that song is on the second edition, but also I have the third edition of the book which contains a set of 50 shanties, and the song appear on page 28 and 29, the third edition has been in print in 1906.

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 Heave Away Cheerily O!

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.

Heave Away Cheerily O! - Pump Shanty

The musical notation

Heave Away Cheerily O! - music notation

And the full lyrics

Heave Away Cheerily O!

Oh, the wind is free, an’ we’re bound for sea,
– Heave away cheerilye o-ho!
The lassies are wavin’ to you an’ to me..
– As off to the south’ard we go-o,
– As off to the south’ard we go!

– Sing, me lads, cheeri-lye,
– Heave, me lads, cheeri-lye,
– Heave away cheeri-lye o-ho!
– For the gold that we prize an’ for sunnier skies,
– Away to the south’ard we go!

* 2 *

They’re soutin’ goodbye, an’ the gals they do cry,
So sing up, me darlin’s, an’ wipe yer tears dry,

* 3 *

They’re cryin’, ‘Come back, my dear John an’ dear Jack,
There’s water in front an’ no door at the back.’

* 4 *

But we’re Johnnies bold who can work for our gold,
An’ stand a good dousin’ wi’out catchin’ cold.

* 5 *

The gals to the south’ard are bully an’ fine,
When we gits to Melbourne we’ll have a good time.

* 6 *

A John he is true to his Sal an’ his Sue,
So long as he’s able to keep ’em in view.

* 7 *

Then sing, “Goodbye, Sally, your wonders I’ll tell,
But when with another, I’ll wish you in hell.”

Related to this sea shanty

Et Nous Irons a Valparaiso (French)

Heave Away Me Johnnies A

Heave Away Me Johnnies C

Leave Her Johnny Leave Her – Pumps

Interesting Facts about the Leave Her Johnny Leave Her – Pumps

“Leave Her Johnny Leave Her – Pumps” was a shanty that was used at pumps or capstan, also sometimes used as halyard shanty. 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 were 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 pump shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 293).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 297, 298).

The Record of the Leave Her Johnny Leave Her – Pumps

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.

Leave her Johnny Leave Her - Pump Shanty

The musical notation

Leave Her Johnny Leave Her - Pumps - music notation

The full lyrics

Leave her Johnny Leave Her (Pumps)

Oh, a dollar a day is a Jack Sprite’s pay,
– leave her, Johnny, leave her!
To pump all night an, to work all day,
– An’ it’s time for us to leave her!

– Leave her, Johnny, leave her,
– Ooh! leave her, Johnny, leave her!
– For the winds do roar an’ we wish we wuz ashore,
– An it’s time for us to leave her!

* 2 *

Though times is hard an’ the wages low,
There’s fathom o’ water down in the hold.

* 3 *

The Old Man shouts, the pumps stand by,
Oh, we can never suck her dry.

* 4 *

Heave one more turn an’ around she goes,
Or else we’ll be kickin’ up our toes.

* 5 *

Leave her, Johnny, we can pump no more,
Of pump or down we’ve had full store.

* 6 *

It’s pump or drown, the Old Man said,
Or else damn soon ye’ll all be dead.

* 7 *

Heave around or we shall drown,
Hey! don’t yiz feel her settlin’ down?

* 8 *

Heave around them pump-bowls bright,
There’ll be no sleep for us this night.

* 9 *

The rats have gone an’ we, the crew,
It’s time be damned that we went too.

* 10 *

Oh, pump away in merry, merry strife,
Oh, heave away for to save dear life.

* 11 *

Oh, pump her out from down below,
Oh, pump her out an’ away we’ll go.

* 12 *

The starboard pump is like the crew,
It’s all worn out an’ will not do.

* 13 *

Leave her, Johnny, we can pump no more,
It’s time we wuz upon dry shore.

Related to this sea shanty

John come tell us as we haul away

The Ox-eyed Man (Davis & Tozer)

Across The Rockies

Across The Rockies

Interesting Facts about the Across The Rockies

Here is probably one of the development stages for the very famous shanty “Leave her, Johnny, Leave here”, the “Across The Rockies”. The places where this shanty can be sung were various depending on time, so in the beginning was serve as the hauling shanty, mainly for halyards, and when the grand chorus was added later used mainly at the pumps and even capstan. Stan Hugill partially learned it from his mother’s father and partially from an Irish sailor, both used the final chorus. His suppositions carry over the theory that the song came to life about the time of the Irish potato famine, in the forties of the nineteenth century. This reconstruction will be sung as a pump shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 292).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 292).

The Record of the Across The Rockies

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.

Across The Rockies - Pump Shanty

The musical notation

Across The Rockies -music notation

The full lyrics

Across The Rockies

Oh, a young girl said to me one day,
– A YOUNG gal goes a-WEEPin’,
I’ve got no money an’ I can’t get home,
– ACROSS the Rocky MOUNtains!

* 2 *

Oh, what shall we poor shellbacks do?
We’ve got no money and we can’t get home,

* 3 *

I thought I heard the Ol’ Man say,
If ye git no money, oh, ye’ll niver git home.

* 4 *

Oh, my poor ol’ mother she wrote to me,
She wrote to me to come home from sea.

* 5 *

Oh, I’ve got no money an’ I’ve got no clothes,
I’ve joined a bunch of though hoboes.

Related to this sea shanty

John come tell us as we haul away

The Ox-eyed Man (Davis & Tozer)

Shallow Brown C

John come tell us as we haul away

Interesting Facts about John come tell us as we haul away

“John come tell us as we haul away” is another shanty with “Johnny” in text, often sung at pumps. Stan Hugill tells us a bit more about what kind of pump he talks about it:
“when the word ‘pump’ would be substituted for the word ‘haul’, although in the more modern flywheel type of pump where a bell-rope was used both words were equally appropriate.”

Also, Stan Hugill tells us that this is one of not too many shanties that had two singers for the solo lines.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 287).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 287, 288).

The Record of the John come tell us as we haul away

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.

John come tell us as we haul away - Pump Shanty

The musical notation

John come tell us as we haul away - music notation

The full lyrics

John come tell us as we haul away

From Liverpool Town we sailed away,
– John, come tell us as we haul away!
Outward bound at the break of day,
– John, come tell us as we haul away!
Aye, aye, haul, aye,
– John, come tell us as we haul away!

* 2 * – First Shantyman:

Wuz ye never down in Mobile Bay?
– John, come_tell us as we haul away!
A-screwin’ cotton all the day,
– John, come_tell us as we haul away!
Aye, aye, haul, aye,
– John, come_tell us as we haul away!

* 3 * – Second Shantyman:

Oh, yes, I’ve bin down Mobile Bay,
– So he tells us as we haul away!
A-screwin’ cotton all the day,
– So he tells us as we haul away!
Aye, aye, haul, aye,
– So he tells us as we haul away!

* 4 * – First Shantyman:

What did yer see down in Mobile Bay?
– John, come_tell us as we haul away!
Were the gals all free an’ gay?
– John, come_tell us as we haul away!
Aye, aye, haul, aye,
– John, come_tell us as we haul away!

* 5 * – Second Shantyman:

Oh this I saw in Mobile Bay,
– So he tells us as we haul away!
A spankin’ gal in a hammock lay,
– So he tells us as we haul away!
Aye, aye, haul, aye,
– So he tells us as we haul away!

* 6 * – First Shantyman:

An’ this flash gal wuz Saucy May,
– John, come_tell us as we haul away!
She wuz tall an’ fine an’ had lots to say.
– John, come_tell us as we haul away!
Aye, aye, haul, aye,
– John, come_tell us as we haul away!

* 7 * – Second Shantyman:

An’ what did yer do in Mobile Bay?
– John, come_tell us as we haul away!
Did yiz give that flash tart all yer pay?
– John, come_tell us as we haul away!
Aye, aye, haul, aye,
– John, come_tell us as we haul away!

* 8 * – First Shantyman:

Oh, this I did in Mobile Bay,
– So he tells us as we haul away!
I courted this gal whose name was May,
– So he tells us as we haul away!
Aye, aye, haul, aye,
– So he tells us as we haul away!

* 9 * – Second Shantyman:

I married her in Mobile Bay,
– So he tells us as we haul away!
An’ lived there happy many a day,
– So he tells us as we haul away!
Aye, aye, haul, aye,
– So he tells us as we haul away!

Related to this sea shanty

The Ox-eyed Man (Davis & Tozer)

The Girl With The Blue Dress (Davis & Tozer)

Shallow Brown C

The Ox-eyed Man (Davis & Tozer)

Interesting Facts about The Ox-eyed Man

“The Ox-eyed Man” is a song that comes from Sailors’ songs or “chanties” by Frederick J Davis and Ferris Tozer (3rd Edition, p 82) – (1906). Ferris & Tozer’s book was assigned to categories “Songs for pumping the ship out”, which clearly tells us it is a pump shanty.

The source of The Ox-eyed Man

The music: Sailors’ songs or “chanties” by Frederick J Davis and Ferris Tozer (3rd Edition, p 82) – (1906)
The lyrics: Sailors’ songs or “chanties” by Frederick J Davis and Ferris Tozer (3rd Edition, p 82) – (1906)
Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 269).

The Record of this sea shanty

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 Ox-eyed Man - Pump Shanty

The musical notation

The full lyrics

The Ox-eyed Man

The ox-eyed man is the man for me,
He came a – sailing from o’er the sea,
– Heigh – ho for the ox – eyed man.

* 2 *

Oh May in the garden a shelling her peas,
And birds singing gaily among the trees,
– Heigh – ho for the ox – eyed man.

* 3 *

Oh, May looked up and she saw her fate
In the ox-eyed man passing by the gate
– Heigh – ho for the ox – eyed man.

* 4 *

Oh, May in the garden a-shelling her peas,
Smil’d on the stranger who’d come o’er the seas
– Heigh – ho for the ox – eyed man.

* 5 *

The ox-eyed man gave a fond look of love,
And charmed May’s heart which was pure as a dove.
– Heigh – ho for the ox – eyed man.

* 6 *

Oh, May in the parlour a-sitting on his knee,
And kissing the sailor who’d come o’er the sea.
– Heigh – ho for the ox – eyed man.

* 7 *

Oh, May in the garden a shelling her peas,
Now weeps for the sailor who sail’d o’er the seas.
– Heigh – ho for the ox – eyed man.

Related to this sea shanty

So Early In The Morning (A)

The Lowlands Low (C)

So Early In The Morning (C)

The Girl With The Blue Dress (Davis & Tozer)

Interesting Facts about The Girl With The Blue Dress (Davis & Tozer)

As Frederick J Davis and Ferris Tozer mentioned in their book “The Girl With The Blue Dress” was a song for “pumping the ship out”. It has slightly different music than Harding’s version, and I cannot lose the opportunity to reconstruct this song as the pumping shanty, also the text is different than Harding’s Barbadian version.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: Sailors’ songs or “chanties” by Frederick J Davis and Ferris Tozer (3rd Edition) – (1906)
The lyrics: Sailors’ songs or “chanties” by Frederick J Davis and Ferris Tozer (3rd Edition) – (1906)
Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 267).

The Record of this sea shanty

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 Girl With The Blue Dress (Davis & Tozer) - Pump Shanty

The musical notation

The Girl With The Blue Dress (Davis & Tozer) - music notation

The full lyrics

The Girl With The Blue Dress (Davis & Tozer)

A girl asleep with a blue dress on,
– SHAKE her, Johnnie, SHAKE her.
An unsafe couch she’s resting on,
– SHAKE her, and so WAKE her.

* 2 *

Storm clouds are gath’ring on our lee,
And soon aback our sail may be,

* 3 *

She may be drenched with salt sea spray.
So go and rouse her quick I say.

* 4 *

White caps are dancing upon the sea,
Run quick, or else to late you’ll be,

* 5 *

She’s lying asleep there on the deck,
No thought of sea, or gale, or wreck.

* 6 *

A girl asleep with a blue dress on,
An unsafe couch she’s resting on,

Related to this sea shanty

So Early In The Morning (A)

So Early In The Morning (B)

The Lowlands Low (B)

Shallow Brown C

Interesting Facts about the Shallow Brown C

Shallow Brown A is a usual version of the general family of the shanties called “Shallow Brown”. At the beginning life of this song, it was used as a pump shanty. As the age of sails progressed, in the late days this song was usually sung at halyards. This version comes from Frederick J Davis; Ferris Tozer – Sailors’ songs or “chanties” (3rd Edition) – (1906). On Page 80 we can find the mentioned song. Also worth mentioning is that this song is in chapter “Songs for pumping the ship out”, so
I will reconstruct this song as a pump shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 259).
The lyrics: Sailors’ songs or “chanties” by Frederick J Davis; Ferris Tozer (3rd Edition, 1906).

The Record of the Shallow Brown 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.

Shallow Brown C - Pump Shanty

The musical notation

Shallow Brown C - music notation

The full lyrics

Shallow Brown C

Come get my clothes in order,
– Shallow, Shallow Brown!
I’m off across the border.
– Shallow, Shallow Brown!

* 2 *

My ship will sails to-morrow,
I’ll leave you without sorrow.

* 3 *

Once you were like a fairy,
But now are the contrary.

* 4 *

For you are cross and lazy,
And soon would drive me crazy.

* 5 *

The packet sails to-morrow,
I’ll leave you without sorrow.

* 6 *

Come get my clothes in order,
I,m off across the border.

Related to this sea shanty

Shallow Brown A (Sentimental)

Way Stormalong, John

Santiana (A)

Shallow Brown A (Sentimental)

 by Jerzy Brzezinski

Interesting Facts about the Shallow Brown A (Sentimental)

Shallow Brown A (Sentimental) is a usual version of the general family of the shanties called “Shallow Brown”. At the beginning life of this song, it was used as a pump shanty. As the age of sails progressed, in the late days this song was usually sung at halyards, William Doerflinger give it as being used to bowse down tack and sheets. I will reconstruct this song as a pump shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 258).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 258, 259).

The Record of the Shallow Brown A (Sentimental)

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.

Shallow Brown A (Sentimental) - Pump Shanty

The musical notation

Shallow Brown A (Sentimental) - music notation.

The full lyrics

Shallow Brown A (Sentimental)

– Och! Shallow, Och! Shallow Brown!

Oh! Shallow in the mornin’,
– Och! Shallow, Och! Shallow Brown!
Just as the day was dawnin’,
– Och! Shallow, Och! Shallow Brown!

* 2 *

She is a bright mulatter,
She hails from Cincinatter

* 3 *

Come put me clothes in order,
The packet sails termorrer.

* 4 *

I’m bound away to leve yer,
I never will deceive yer.

* 5 *

I long ter look upon yer,
I spend me money on yer,

* 6 *

Ye are me only treasure,
I love ye to full measure.

* 7 *

The packet sails termorrer,
I’ll leave ye with much sorrer.

* 8 *

In the cradle is my baby,
I want no other lady.

* 9 *

My wife an’ baby grieves me,
‘Tis pain for me ter leave ye.

* 10 *

Be on the pier ter meet me,
With kisses I will greet thee.

* 11 *

Goin’ away termorrer,
Bound away termorrer.

Related to this sea shanty

Shallow Brown – Cecil Sharp

Mister Stormalong (A1)

Stormy Along, John

Shallow Brown A

Interesting Facts about the Shallow Brown A

Shallow Brown A is a usual version of the general family of the shanties called “Shallow Brown”. At the beginning life of this song, it was used as a pump shanty. According to Stan Hugill, this song has a West Indian origin, some of the shantymen pronounced the refrain as “Challo Brown” – “Challo” was a west Indian word Carib extraction meaning a “half-castle”, and it was heard this song, as far as the ports of Chile. I will reconstruct this song as a pump shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 258).
The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 258).

The Record of the Shallow Brown A

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.

Shallow Brown A - Pump Shanty

The musical notation

Shallow Brown A - musical notation

The full lyrics

Shallow Brown A

– Och! Shallow, Och! Shal-low Brown!

Oh! Shallow in the mornin’,
– Och! Shallow, Och! Shal-low Brown!
Just as the day was dawnin’,
– Och! Shallow, Och! Shal-low Brown!

* 2 *

She is a bright mulatter,
She hails from Cincinatter

* 3 *

Come put me clothes in order,
The packet sails termorrer.

* 4 *

Once ye wuz sweet and cherry,
But now ye are contrary.

* 5 *

For ye are fat an’ lazy,
Ye nearly drive me crazy.

* 6 *

My half-pay ye’ve spent like chaff,
Ye’d like the other half.

* 7 *

Ye boozed me pay away,
But ye’ve had yer last pay-day.

* 8 *

The packet sails termorrer,
I’ll leave yer without sorrer.

* 9 *

Me clothes are all in pawn,
I’m bound around the Horn.

* 10 *

She won’t miss me when I’ve gone,
She’ll hook some other bum.

Related to this sea shanty

Shallow Brown – Cecil Sharp

Mister Stormalong (A1)

Stormy Along, John

Shallow Brown – Cecil Sharp

Interesting Facts about the Shallow Brown – Cecil Sharp

Shallow Brown – Cecil Sharp version, this version in fact has the solo words from “Blow, Boys, Blow”, and the solo tune from “Hilo, Boys, Hilo”. Stan Hugill gives us only a sample of this song with one chorus and first stanza so the other five verses I get from Cecil Sharp’s “English Folk Chanteys” (1914), a song with lyrics and music notation can be found on page 35. Sharp’s description of this song from page 70 reveals us couple more details than Stan Hugill. So first it says:
“British ships, unlike American, always carried limejuice ; hence the British sailor was nicknamed ” a limejuicer ” by his American comrades.”
Also, the song has been collected by Cecil Sharp from a really famous shantyman: Mr. John Short, at Watchet. Because Cecil Sharp refers to this version, to the Ferris Tozer’s version from “Sailors Songs or Chanteys” (3rd Edition) – (1906), song number 43, page 80, and it is in chapter “Songs For Pumping The Ship Out”, it will be reconstructed as the pump shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “English Folk Chanteys” by Cecil Sharp (1914) (1st ed: p 35).
The lyrics: English Folk Chanteys” by Cecil Sharp (1914) (1st ed: p 35).
Mentioned in: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 257).

The Record of the Shallow Brown – Cecil Sharp

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.

Shallow Brown (Cecil Sharp) - Pump Shanty

The musical notation

Shallow Brown - Cecil Sharp - music notation

The full lyrics

Shallow Brown – Cecil Sharp

– Shalow O, Shalow Brown, Shalow O, Shalow Brown,

A yankee ship came down the river;
– Shalow O, Shalow Brown.
A yankee ship came down the river;
– Shalow O, Shalow Brown.

* 2 *

And who you thing was master of her?
And who you thing was master of her?

* 3 *

A Yankee mate and a lime-juice skipper.
A Yankee mate and a lime-juice skipper.

* 4 *

And what do you think they had for dinner ?
And what do you think they had for dinner ?

* 5 *

A parrot’s tail and a monkey’s liver.
A parrot’s tail and a monkey’s liver.

Related to this sea shanty

Well Ranzo Way

The Lowlands Low (C)

Lowlands or My Dollar An’ A Half A Day