Haul Boys Haul - Johnny Collins

Haul Boys Haul
Now when I was a schoolboy I lived at home at ease
Now I am a trawlin´ man, I sail the wintry seas
I thought I´d like seafarin´ life, it´s all right ´til I found
It´s a damned sight worse than slavery when we got off the ground
And it was
Haul, boys haul. Haul, boys haul
Heave away the capstan, lads, and let´s get up the trawl
When the winds a´ blowin´, the ship´s a gently rollin´
My Emma, my Emma, won´t you be true to me
Now every night in winter, as regular as a clock
It´s on we all sail Wester, likewise your oilskin frock
An then up to the capstan lads and then we´ll heave away
Well that´s the cry in the middle of the night as well as in the day
Chorus
No when the fish are up on deck, a pilin´ to our knees
We slip and slide and wonder why we ever went to sea
But then ashore we sell the catch. That´s easier to bear
For it´s beer all night in the ladies arms when we get paid our share
Chorus
With winter passin´ over and springtime comin´ on
We go out in all weathers, no time for beer or song
For the fish don´t wait for lovers, as you might quickly find
Put on your oilskin jacket lad and leave the girls behind
Chorus
And when out trip is over, hard up the tiller goes
And straight way into Yardmouth with a big jib on her nose
And when we reach the pierhead, all the girls will loudly say
Here comes our jolly trawlin´ lads that have been so long away
And it was
Haul, boys haul. Haul, boys haul
Heave away the capstan, lads, and let´s get up the trawl
When the winds a´ blowin´, the ship´s a gently rollin´
My Emma, my Emma, won´t you be true to me
My Emma, my Emma, won´t you be true to me

[@blasterbrain1443]

In ~2009, I discovered Pandora manning the phones and entering dailies at the teaching zoo, and this song eventually played, and introduced me to a genera which would ever change me.

[@tyronemarcucci8395]

Many years ago while in the crew of the USS Lexington, CVA 16, we used to sing some sea shantys on the signal bridge. Many were too dirty for public use. LOL

[@jamespfp]

I heard this track on the Album (another TH-cam Vid) and I was immediately aware of how it bears a striking resemblance to songs still extant in my own North Atlantic cultural region lo these many hundreds of years later. I honestly assumed at first that this *must* be from "Home" but the reference to Yarmouth throws me off. *It might be Nova Scotia,* it might be England. But the sailors singing this song were, by a high percentage, Newfoundlanders. #TheRock
Hey, if you're looking for something to compare this to... try searching for "The Old Polina", a song about a sealing ship which was renowned for her Arctic seaworthiness as well as her impressive speed. It has a melody which is likely derived from "Haul Boys Haul", and when played with instruments, a similar set of chords and progressions.
Thanks!

[@richiec9077]

"The old Polina " also a song from the British isles,

[@dracodistortion9447]

My favourite Shanty.

[@JFGryphonNYC]

Excellent

[@chrislehto5357]

Thank you for doing this!

[@user-vm3tu2sn9k]

Like songs of the southern states of America

[@user-cn7fm7en2n]

ユニバのアミティランディングレストランから来た人🖖

[@cyka6blat989]

Whatever that means ok

[@user-vm3tu2sn9k]

Like songs of the southern states of America