Haul Er Away! A

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

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.

Haul Er Away! A - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

Haul Er Away! A - music 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

Heave Away Boys Heave Away A

Leave Her Johnny – Halyard

John Kanaka

Cheerily Man – Sharp

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

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.

Cheerily Man (Sharp) - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

Cheerily Man - Sharp - music 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

Heave Away Boys Heave Away A

Leave Her Johnny – Halyard

John Kanaka

Cheerily Man – Halyard

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

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.

Cheerily Man - Halyard Shanty

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,
O
oh, split the blocks,
Ooh, stretch her luff.

* 13 *

Ooh, rouse ‘n’ shake ‘er.
O
oh, 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 A

Leave Her Johnny – Halyard

John Kanaka

Heave Away Boys Heave Away B

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

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 Boys Heave Away B - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

Heave Away Boys Heave Away B -music 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

Heave Away Boys Heave Away A

Leave Her Johnny – Halyard

John Kanaka

Heave Away Boys Heave Away A

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

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 Boys Heave Away A - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

Heave Away Boys Heave Away A - music 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, HEAVE 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)

Blow Boys Blow (odd verses)

Hourra Mes Boués Hourra! (French)

Leave Her Johnny – Halyard

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

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 - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

Leave Her Johnny - Halyard - music 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

John Kanaka

John Kanaka

Interesting Facts about the John Kanaka

“John Kanaka” is a halyard shanty closely related to “Mobile Bay”. Stan Hugill informs us in his book, that this shanty is the first time it has been in print. This is one of the songs from a collection of wonderful shantymen, Harding of Barbados. “The last Shantyman,” says, that Harding sang it with many falsetto yelps and hitches almost impossible to imitate. Polynesian in origin chorus and the word “Tulai-ē” were Samoan. Also very unique for this halyard shanty are three solos and three refrains.
Because I always prefer the origin audio record (which rarely exists), to using music notation, I will try to reconstruct this fantastic halyard shanty base from an album by Stan Hugill with Stormalong John’s band “Chants des Marins Anglais” (1992).

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 288).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 288, 289).

The Record of the John Kanaka

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 Kanaka - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

John Kanaka - music notation

The full lyrics

John Kanaka

I heard, I heard the Old Man say,
– JOHN Kanaka-naka, TULAI-ē!
Today, today is a holiday,
– JOHN Kanaka-naka, TULAI-ē!
Tulai-ē! oooh! Tulai-ē!
– JOHN Kanaka-naka, TULAI-ē!

* 2 *

We’ll work termorrer, but no work terday,
We’ll work termorrer, but no work terday,
Tulai-ē! oooh! Tulai-ē!

* 3 *

We’re bound away for ‘Frisco Bay,
We’re bound away at the break o’ day,
Tulai-ē! oooh! Tulai-ē!

* 4 *

We’re bound away around Cape Horn,
We wisht ter Christ we’d niver bin born,
Tulai-ē! oooh! Tulai-ē!

* 5 *

Oh, haul, O haul, oh haul away,
Oh, haul away an’ make yer pay,
Tulai-ē! oooh! Tulai-ē!

Related to this sea shanty

Hilo Johnny Brown

Blow The Man Down (E)

Blow The Man Down (F)

Hanging Johnny

Interesting Facts about the Hanging Johnny

This is one of the most famous shanties of all “Hanging Johnny”. According to Stan Hugill’s Hanging Johnny, it can be legendary hangman Jack Ketch, but obviously, nobody can confirm this information, so we have to get it as a legend. Probably melancholy tune and macabre lyrics and rhythm length itself made this song one of the best halyard shanties ever.
Here the description of how Stan Hugill described the use of this shanty:
“The word ‘Hang’ was often used when ‘swinging’. In this maneuver (when a buntline or clewline or light halyard had to be given a few final strong pulls), one man took a part turn with the line around the portion of the belayin’-pin beneath the pin rail, while two or three other seamen with their hands as high as they could place them gripped the line and fell backward heavily, then ‘giving in’ the resultant slack to the chap at the pin.”
Usually was used at t’gallant halyards.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 284).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 283, 284, 285).

The Record of the Blow the Hanging Johnny

“Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 203, 204).

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.

Hanging Johnny - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

Hanging Johnny - music notation

The full lyrics

Hanging Johnny

Oh, they calls me Hangin’ Johnny,
– AWAY, boys, AWAY!
They sez I hangs for money,
– So HANG, boy-oys, HANG!

* 2 *

They sez I hang for money,
But hangin’ is so funny,

* 3 *

At first I hanged me daddy,
An’ then I hanged me mammy.

* 4 *

Oh, yes, I hanged me mother,
Me sister, an’ me brudder.

* 5 *

I hanged me sister Sally,
I hanged the whole damn family.

* 6 *

An’ then I hanged me granny,
I hanged her up quite canny.

* 7 *

I’d hang the mate and skipper,
I’d hang ’em by their flippers.

* 8 *

I’d hang a ruddy copper,
I’d give him the long dropper.

* 9 *

I’d hang a rotten liar,
I’d hang a bloomin’ frair.

* 10 *

I’d hang to make things jolly,
I’d hang Jill, Jane, an’ Polly.

* 11 *

A rope, a beam, a ladder,
I’d hang yiz all tergether.

* 12 *

We’ll hang an’ haul tergether,
We’ll hang for better weather.

Related to this sea shanty

Hilo Come Down Below

Whisky Johnny C

Whisky Johnny D

Whisky Johnny D

Interesting Facts about the Whisky Johnny D

The “Whisky Johnny D” is a halyard one, usually used at either t’gallant or tops’l halyards, and from time to time it even was used at the capstan.
Here is the list of versions given to us by Stan Hugill:
(a) The advantages and disadvantages of whisky drinking,
(b) Shanghaiing version,
(c) The limejuice skipper, and
(d) Crabfish, crayfish, or lobster version.
This song will be reconstructed as the Halyard shanty. Some collectors claim that this song is very antique, and is dating back to Elizabethanian times.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 274).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 277).

The Record of the Whisky Johnny D

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.

Whisky Johnny D - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

Whisky Johnny D - music notation

The full lyrics

Whisky Johnny D

‘Mornin’, Mister Fisherman’; ‘Good mornin’, ‘sez he,
– Whisky Johnny!
‘Have ye got a crabfish ye can sell to me?’
Whisky for my Johnny!

* 2 *

‘Oh, yes,’ sez he, ‘I have got two,
One for me an’ the other for you.’

* 3 *

I took the crabfish home, but I couldn’t find a plate.
I put it in the place where me Missus always ate.

* 4 *

Early next mornin’ as ye may guess,
The Missus got up for an early breakfast.

* 5 *

The Missus gave a howl, a groan, and a shout,
She danced around the room with the crabfish on her snout.

* 6 *

I grabbed a scrubber, the Missus grabbed a broom,
We chased the bloomin’ crayfish round an’ round the room.

* 7 *

We hit it on the head, we hit it on the side,
We hit the bloomin’ crabfish, until the blighter died.

* 8 *

The end of my story – the moral is this,
Always put yer spacs on before ye eat yer fish.

Related to this sea shanty

Whisky Johnny B

The Gal With The Blue Dress

Whisky Johnny A

Whisky Johnny C

Interesting Facts about the Whisky Johnny C

The “Whisky Johnny C” is a halyard one, usually used at either t’gallant or tops’l halyards, and from time to time it even was used at the capstan. An interesting fact about this beautiful shanty was that sailors used this shanty, at the mizen tops’l halyards – the hands in the case being strung out across the poop, the idea was to give the captain a gentle hint from the very nature of the words sung to issue a tot of rum.
Here is the list of versions given to us by Stan Hugill:
(a) The advantages and disadvantages of whisky drinking,
(b) Shanghaiing version,
(c) The limejuice skipper, and
(d) Crabfish, crayfish, or lobster version.
The text for this version Stan Hugill took from Mr. Jimmy Sexton, Arthur Spencer, and other seamen. This song will be reconstructed as the Halyard shanty.

The source of this sea shanty

The music: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 274).
The lyrics: “Shanties from the Seven Seas” by Stan Hugill (1st ed: p 277).

The Record of the Whisky Johnny 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.

Whisky Johnny C - Halyard Shanty

The musical notation

Whisky Johnny C - music notation

The full lyrics

Whisky Johnny C

There wuz a limejuice skipper of the name of Hogg,
– Whisky Johnny!
Once tried to stop his sailor’s grog,
– Whisky for my Johnny!

* 2 *

Which made the crew so weak an’ slack,
That the helmsman caught her flat aback.

* 3 *

An’ ever after so they say,
That crew grog three times a day.

* 4 *

So we’ll boost her up an’ bowl along,
An’ dring that skipper’s health in song.

* 5 *

We’ll keep closehauled without a breach,
With just a shiver in the weather leach.

* 6 *

Now if this ship wuz the ol’ James Baines,
That yard would never be lowered again.

* 7 *

The halyards they would racked be,
We’ll drive along through a big green sea.

* 8 *

Oh, hoist the yard from down below,
To the sheave-hole she must go.

* 9 *

Up aloft with taunted leach,
Hand over hand, lads, ye must reach.

* 10 *

Whisky made the Ol’ Man say,
One more pull, lads, than belay!

Related to this sea shanty

Whisky Johnny B

The Gal With The Blue Dress

Whisky Johnny A