Haul Away Joe

A short-drag shanty so ubiquitous that its name is almost synonymous with the very term "sea shanty". While its first commercial recording was a performance by Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter in the 1940s, written references exist dating back to 1859,^[1] placing its likely origin in the mid-19th century.

This song has been performed by nearly every folk singer in the last century; the variations in lyrics and arrangement are positively staggering. It appears as the opening track on Between Wind and Water, and was also released as a live recording on the physical copy of the album Bones in the Ocean.

Factoids

The word "constitution" in the verse about King Louis is a synonym for "health"; it is a joke of understatement, as getting one's head cut off would certainly ruin one's health. France at the time very notably did not have a constitution (hence the decapitations).

Lyrics

These lyrics are based on the version performed by the Longest Johns on their album Between Wind and Water.

When I was just a little lad or so me mammy told me
(Away, haul away, we'll haul away, Joe)
That if I didn't kiss the girls, me lips would grow all moldy
(Away, haul away, we'll haul away, Joe) [continues throughout]

{Chorus}
Away, (ho!) haul away! We'll haul away together!
Away, haul away, we'll haul away, Joe
Away (ho!) haul away! We'll haul for better weather!
Away, haul away, we'll haul away, Joe

I used to have an Irish girl but she got fat and lazy
But now I've got a Bristol girl and she just drives me crazy

{Chorus}

Old Louis was the king of France before the revolut-i-on
But then he got his head chopped off an' it spoiled his constitut-i-on

{Chorus}

You call yourself a second mate, you cannae tie a bowline
You cannot even stand up straight when the packet, she's a-rollin'

{Chorus}

Well, now can't you see the black clouds a-gatherin'?
Well, now can't you see the storm clouds a-risin'?

{Chorus}

Recordings

Streaming/Purchase

Between Wind and Water version

Commodore 1864 version

YouTube Videos

Gig Videos

Full Band Streams

The Longest Johns and Friends, El Pony Pisador! (12 Aug 2018)
Surviving the first month of 2019 with The Longest Johns!!! (New donation system) (30 Jan 2019)
Singing Live Stream and Special Announcement... (7 Aug 2019)
Welcome to a New Decade with The Longest Johns (22 Jan 2020)
Lockdown Lullabies and Rousing Renditions (15 Apr 2020)
100k Subscriber Thank You Stream (19 Aug 2020)
Be Stream And Not Heard (6 Oct 2021) - "Jo(sephine) version", led by Lucy Humphris
Music Video and First Single of Smoke & Oakum Afterparty (20 Oct 2021)
Strème de Menthe (27 Jul 2022) - "Jo(sephine) version", led by Lucy Humphris
Stream City 2024 (21 Aug 2024)
The Stream Musketeers (26 Aug 2026)

Chill Streams

Gaming Streams

↑ https://www.fresnostate.edu/folklore/ballads/Doe004.html

[1] ttps://www.fresnostate.edu/folklore/ballads/Doe004.html

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