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.
The musical 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.”
