Haul Away, Joe

Words & Music:

Traditional Sea Shanty

 

Supreme songhound Thomas Loomis provided both extra verses and the fact that "... you can make up more verses; 'Haul Away, Joe' of course is a work song, and must be sung till the anchor is up..."  Tom is right, this was a work song and a "call & response" one, at that.  In this version of "call & reponse", the line sung out isn't echoed, but the same line is sung in response to the verse lines.

 

Am           Em             Dm            Am   Em

When I was a little lad, my mother always told me,

Am        Em          Dm    Em  Am

Way haul away, we'll, haul away Joe.

     Am           Em                   Dm                  Am Em

That if you never kiss the girls, your lips they will grow moldy.

Am        Em          Dm    Em  Am

Way haul away, we'll, haul away Joe.

 

[Alt. version per Thomas Loomis:

When I was a little lad, me mither used ta tell me,

Way, haul away, we'll haul away, Joe.

That if ye do not kiss a gal, yer lips will grow all moldy,

Way, haul away, etc.

-- and the "little lad" and "kiss a gal" phrases are each sung as a very quick turned note:

...if you did not kiss-a-gal

   1         2          3                 4

where 1,2,3,4 are the beats (it's in 4/4 time, and beat three (kiss-a-gal) consists of three 16th notes...)...]

 

CHORUS:

Way, haul away, we'll haul away t' gether,

Way, haul away, we'll haul away, Joe.

 

King Louis was the king of France before the revolution,

Way haul away, we'll, haul away Joe.

But the people chopped his head off, which spoiled his constitution.

Way haul away, we'll, haul away Joe.

 

CHORUS:

 

Once I had a German girl, but she was fat and lazy,

Way haul away, we'll, haul away Joe.

And then I got a New York girl, she damn near drove me crazy.

Way haul away, we'll, haul away Joe.

 

CHORUS:

 

Way haul away, I'll sing to you of Nancy,

Way haul away, we'll, haul away Joe.

Way haul away, she's just my cut and fancy.

Way haul away, we'll, haul away Joe.

 

CHORUS:

 

Way haul away, we'll sail the seas together,

Way haul away, we'll, haul away Joe.

Way haul away, we'll haul for better weather.

Way haul away, we'll, haul away Joe.

 

CHORUS:

 

The captain's in his cabin, a-drinkin rum and brandy,

Way haul away, we'll, haul away Joe.

And the cook is in the galley,  makin' duff sa handy,

Way haul away, we'll, haul away Joe.

 

CHORUS: