HEAVE AWAY CHEERILY O! - Track 1

Oh, the wind is free an' we're bound for sea
Heave away cheerily o-ho!
The lassies are wavin' to you an' to me
As off to the south'ard we go, as off to the south'ard we go

Sing, me lads, cheerily
Heave, me lads, cheerily
Heave away cheerily o-ho!
For the gold that we prize an' for sunnier skies
Away to the south'ard we go!

They're cryin', Come back, my dear John an' dear Jack
There's water in front an' no door at the back

But we're Johnnies bold who can work for our gold
An' stand a good dousin' wi'out catchin' cold

The gals to the south'ard are bully an' fine
When we gits to Melbourne we'll have a good time

A John he is true to his Sal an' his Sue
So long as he's able to keep 'em in view

We'll heave her up, bullies, an' run her away
We'll soon be a'headin' out on a long lay

AWAY SUSANNA! - Track 2

Shanghaied in San Francisco, we fetched up in Bombay
They set us afloat in an old lease boat that steered like a bale of hay

Then away, Susanna, my fair maid
Oho, ye New York girls, can't ye dance the polka

We panted in the tropics whilst the pitch boiled up on deck
We've saved our hides, little else besides, from an ice-cold North Sea wreck

We drank our rum in Portland, we've thrashed through the Behring Strait
An' we toed the mark on a Yankee barque with a hard-case down-east mate

We know the quays of Glasgow, an' the boom of the lone Azores
We've had our grub from a salt-horse tub, condemned by the Navy stores

We know the track to Auckland an' the light of the Kinsale Head
An' we crept close-hauled while the leadsman called the depth of the channel bed

We know the streets of Santos, the river at Saigon
We've had our glass with a Chinese lass in Ship Street in Hong Kong

They'll pay us off in London, then it's oh, for a spell ashore
Then again we'll ship for a southern trip in a week or hardly more

'Tis goodbye, Sal an' Lucy, 'tis time we were afloat
With a straw-stuffed bed, an' achin' head, a knife an' an oilskin coat

Sing Time For Us To Leave Her, sing Bound For The Rio Grande
An' when the tug turns back, we'll follow her track for a last long look at the land

An' when the purple disappears an' only the blue is seen
That'll take our bones to Davy Jones an' our souls to Fiddler's Green

THE APPRENTICE BOY - Track 3

When first I went to sea, apprentice bound
I sailed the salt seas all round and round
I scarce had sailed a voyage but one
When I fell in love with my charming Ann

I went to my Captain, both stout and bold
And unto him my secret told
I love yonder lass as I love my life
What would I give if she were my wife

Well, the Captain said, you're a foolish boy
For to court a girl that you'll ne'er enjoy
For she'll have lovers when you're at sea
And she'll be married e'er you be free

Well, I don't know but I'll go and try
For she might fancy an apprentice boy
And she might alter her mind for me
And wait on me until I be free

Well, I bought her ribbons and I bought her doves
These things to prove of a heart that loves
She accepted all and she was not shy
And she vowed she'd wait for her apprentice boy

When my ship is anchored and my work is o'er
I'll steer my barque for sweet Erin's shore
In my native country, my love I'll enjoy
And she'll welcome home her apprentice boy

So come all you sea apprentices where'er you be
Never slight your true love when you're at sea
Just love her as you love your life
And she'll consent to become your wife

THE GRIMSBY LADS - Track 4

Words and music by John Conolly and Bill Meek

They sail in the cold and the gray of the morning
Leaving their wives and their families behind
Following the fishing, fulfilling their calling
Their charts are all ready the shoals for to find

Here's to the Grimsby lads out at the trawling
Here's to the lads on the billowing deep
Shooting their nets and heaving and hauling
All the night long, and the landsmen asleep

Away to the north where there know will be waiting
Frost and black ice and the lash of the gale
Trawling and hoping and anticipating
A ship bumper-full and safe homeward to sail

From Scotland's gray shore to the cold coast of Iceland
Through White Sea and Faeroe they're working their way
Through Dogger and Forties to stormy Bear Island
Eighteen long hours is the fisherman's day

The nets are inboard and the catch lies a gleaming
There's gutting and washing and packing below
Ten days of fishing and home they'll be steaming
A thousand miles gone and a thousand to go

On Humber's brown water the new sun is gleaming
To the fisherman's prayer the breeze sings the amen
The smoky gray town in the stillness is dreaming
Her sons from the waters return once again

HOOKER JOHN - Track 5

Oh, me Mary she's a sailor's lass
To me Hooker John, me Hoo-John!
We courted all day on the grass
To me Hooker John, me Hoo-John!

Way Susanna
Oh, way, hay, high high-ya
Johnny's on the foreyard
Yonder, way up yonder

Oh, me Susie's she's a sailor's gal
She's nine foot high that gal's so tall

Oh, me Flora she's a hoosier's friend
She's beamy round the old beam end

Oh, Sally Brown she's the gal for me
She court's a bit when her man's at sea

Oh, haul away for Mobile Bay
Oh, haul away and make yer pay

THE OCEAN QUEEN - Track 6

Was in the winter season, all in the frost and snow
We leave our noble harbour and down to Georges go
Where winds do loudly whistle, blow heavy on our sail
As we go off a-spouting just like a frightened whale

Our sails are always good and strong, made of the best of duck
Our rigging is manila and rove through patent block
Our vessel built of white oak and finished with great taste
To ride the heavy norther gale and stand the winter's test

And on the banks of Georges no tongue can e'er describe
The roughness of the weather, the swiftness of the tide
Where ice congeals like mountains and heavy winds do blow
And we poor sons of Neptune great hardships must go through

Hail, rain and thunder, and breakers on each side
But yet our noble vessel majestically do ride
But hark one moment, listen, for what I say is true
The Ocean Queen is missing, and have drowned all her crew

Nine there were in number, all in the prime of life
Commanded by a captain who leaves a tender wife
One fortnight whey were married; from her he did depart
And now she's left a widow with a sad and broken heart

It's true she's not the only one who's left alone to weep
There's fathers, sons and brothers that drowned in the deep
But I hope God will reward her for we know the grief she feeled
There is a balm of Gilead that every wound can heal

SALTPETRE SHANTY - Track 7

For the Spanish main we are bound away

Oh Roll!

For the Spanish main we are bound away

Oh, Roll!

We are sailing away at the break of day

Where the swift bonito and dolphin do play

Oh, roll, rock her bars

Heave her high, oh, rock her, oh roll!

To old Callao we are bound away

We’re bound away from Liverpool Bay

Where the flash girls o’Chile will steal all our pay

Old Pedro the Crimp, boys, it’s him we should fear

He’s priming the vino and doping his beer

To the Chinchas he’ll ship us if we don’t steer clear

The ol’ man gives a lashing of liquor, we trust

If he keeps it up, a gut we’ll bust

But we’ll drive this ship through hell if we must!

When the order comes round for to shorten more sail

We’ll call for more ale in a full-blown gale

Or up aloft you’ll not see our tail

For two weary weeks we beat round the Horn

To push us on till the dawn was born

Salt spray we drank from night untill morn

Them flash girls of Chile, they are very fine

They’ll greet us and love us and treat us to wine

But them bitches is robbin’ us most of the time

So keep a sharp watch and a keen weather eye

On the girls of Coquimbo to old Coronel

With their red-hot senoras from the far side o’ Hell

When it’s time to sail home, our hearts they will swell

From some old seaport on the west coast of hell

We’ll sing adios and say fare thee well

BOUND TO AUSTRALIA - Track 8

I'm leaving old Ireland, the land that I love
And I'm bound far across the sea
Oh, I'm bound for Australia, the land of the free
Where there'll be a welcome for me

So fill up yer glasses an' drink what ye please
For whatever the damage I'll pay
So be aisy an' free, whilst yer drinkin' wid me
Sure I'm a man you don't meet every day!

When I board me ship for the south'ard to go
She'll be lookin' so trim an' so fine
And I'll land me aboard, with me bags and me stores
From the dockside they'll cast off each line

To Land's End we'll tow, with our boys all so tight
Wave a hearty goodbye to the shore
And we'll drink the last drop to our country's green land
And the next day we'll curse our sore heads

We'll then drop the tug, and sheet tops'ls home taut
And the hands will crowd sail upon sail
With a sou'wester strong, boys, we'll just tack along
By the morn many jibs will turn pale

We'll beat past the Ushant and then down the Bay
Where the west wind it blows fine an' strong
We'll soon get the Trades and we should make good time
To the south'ard then we'll roll along

Round the Cape we will roll, take our flyin' kites in
For the Forties will sure roar their best
And then run our Eastin' with yards all set square
With the wind roaring out of the west

We'll then pass Cape Looin all shipshape and trim
Then head up for Adelaide Port
Off Semaphore roads we will there drop our hook
And ashore, boys, we'll head for some sport

When I've worked in Australia for twenty long years
One day will I head homeward bound
With a nice little fortune tucked under me wing
By a steamship I'll travel I'm bound

So 'tis goodbye to Sally and goodbye to Sue
When I'm leavin' Australia so free
Where the gals are so kind, but the one left behind
Is the one that will one day splice me

BILLY O’SHAY - Track 9

Oh, we all got drunk in Dublin City
Fall down, me Billy
We all got drunk and oh, what a pity
Fall down, Billy O'Shea

Fall down, fall down
Fall down, me Billy
We're bound away for Americay
Fall down, Billy O'Shea

We all got drunk on the Rogerson's quay
And when we awoke we were all at sea

Oh, we're not sailors, Captain Drew
And a bit unhappy to work for you

The Captain said, "I've a cure for that"
"And here for a start is a dose of the cat"

He sent him up to the top mast yard
When he hit the deck, well, he hit it hard

We wrapped him up in a canvas sail
And we lowered him gently o'er the rail

Over the side and down he goes
He's gone to Davy Jones with a stitch through his nose

Farewell, farewell, farewell, me Billy
For I am bound for Americay

FIRING THE MAURETANIA - Track 10

In nineteen hundred twenty four
Found myself in Liverpool on the floor
So I went to the Cunard office door
Got a job on the Mauretania

Oh, firing the Mauretania
She surely is a slaver
To Hell with the Mauretania

The Mauretania's a a wonderful sight
Sixty-four fires a-burning bright
But you'll shovel coal from morning to night
A-firing the Mauretania

The coal was so hard and full of slate
And that's what got to the four-to-eight
It very soon wearied the four-to-eight
A-firing the Mauretania

The eight-to-twelve were much better men
But they were weary by half part ten
So tired and weary by half past ten
A-firing the Mauretania

The fan's on the bum and fire won't draw
And that's what got to the twelve-to-four
It very soon buggered the twelve-to-four
A-firing the Mauretania

So come all you firemen, listen to me
The Mauretania spells purgatory
Stick to the coast, don't go deep sea
A-firing the Mauretania

JACKIE TAR - Track 11

When Jack had pulled the oar and the boat was gone
And the lassie on the shore with her head hanging down
The tears stood in her eyes and her bosom heaving sighs
Farewell, my dear, she cries, with your trousers on
Farewell, said he, I go to sea, and you must stay behind
But do not grieve, for while I live I ever will be kind
And when I come to land you will meet me on the strand
And welcome Jackie Tar with his trousers on

Now peace is proclaimed and the wars are all o'er
The fleets they are moored and the sailors come ashore
Now you may see her stand with a glass into her hand
To welcome Jack to land with his trousers on
While up on high, she catched his eye with all her lovely charms
Her face he knew and straight he flew and caught her in his arms
Her hand he kindly pressed as he held her round the waist
And he kissed the bonny lassie with his trousers on

O Jack, where have you been since you went from me
And what have you seen upon the raging sea
I mourned for your sake while my heart was like to break
For I thought I'd never see my Jack with his trousers on
And while you stayed I sighed and prayed to Neptune and to Mars
That they would prove kind and send you home safe from the wars
And now to my request they have been pleased to list
And sent you to my breast with your trousers on

I have sailed the seas for you to the Torrid Zone
From the confines of Peru to Van Diemen's Land
From the Bay of Baltimore to the coast of Labrador
But now I'm safe on shore with my trousers on
I have beat the storms in many forms upon the raging main
I have fought the foes with deadly blows and many a hero slain
I have heard the cannons road, I have rolled in blood and gore
But now I'm safe on shore with my trousers on

I have been aloft when the winds have blown
And I have been aloft when the bombs were thrown
But like a sailor bold I have now come from the hold
With my pockets full of gold and my trousers on
And now no more from shore to shore I'll plough the raging seas
But free from strife as man and wife we'll live in peace and ease
To the church this couple hied and the priest the knot has tied
And the sailor kissed his bride with his trousers on

ROLLER BOWLER (aka GOOD MORNING, LADIES ALL) - Track 12

As I rolled out one mornin'
Hurrah, you roller bowler!
As I rolled out one mornin'
I met a dou-dou fair

Timme, hey-rig-a-jig an' a ha-ha
Good morning ladies all
And hurrah, you roller bowler
Timme, hey-rig-a-jig an' a ha-ha!
Good mornin', ladies all

Oh, I met her once in Liverpool
Oh, I met her once in Liverpool
That saucy gal of mine

Oh, the first time that I saw her
Oh, the first time that I saw her
'Twas down in Parkee Lane

She winked and tipped her flipper
She winked and tipped her flipper
She thought I was a Mate

But when she found that I was skint
But when she found that I was skint
She left me standing there

I squared me yards an' sailed away
I squared me yards an' sailed away
An' to the ship I went

The last time that I saw her
The last time that I saw her
Was down the waterside

Oh, you ladies short and ladies tall
Oh, you ladies short and ladies tall
I love you one and all

ILO MAN - Track 13

There's a ship in full sail
And she's out upon the river
Way, hey, you Ilo man
There's a ship in full sail
And she's out upon the river
Way, hey, you Ilo man

Heave her up, heave her high
It's the best that we can give her

There's a girl on the pier
Don't you wish you could stay with her

And the ducks and the geese are all swimming on the river
And the ducks and the geese are all swimming on the river

And the boys and the girls are all roving in the clover
And the boys and the girls are all rolling in the clover

Heave 'er up, heave 'er high, come and rock and roll me over
Heave 'er up, heave 'er high, come and rock and roll me over

Here's a health to each lad, to each shell back and each rover
Here's a health to each lad, to each shell back and each rover

MORNING SHANTY - Track 14

Words & Music by Sharyn Dimmick

Won't you come down to the shore?
Watching
I will sail away once more
In the morning

We have sung through half the night
Watching
For the coming of the light
In the morning

For the friends who now have gone
Watching
For the friends returning home
In the morning

But the clock upon the wall
Watching
Steals the time and gives it all*
In the morning

At my window I will be
Watching
For your ships to sail to me
In the morning

*Sharyn’s original lyrics for this line: “Steals our time and gives it all”

ROLL BOYS ROLL - Track 15

Sally Brown, she's the girl for me, boys
Roll boys, roll boys roll
Sally Brown, she's the girl for me, boys
Way high, Miss Sally Brown

Oh way down South, way down South boys
Oh bound away, with a bone in her mouth boys

Oh we're rollin' down to Trinidad to see Miss Sally Brown
Oh rollin' down to Trinidad to paint the bleedin' town

She's lovely up aloft, an' she's lovely down below
She's lovely all the way, me boys, it's all you want to know

She's lovely on the foreyard, lovely on the main
She's lovely in the summertime, she's lovely in the rain

Ol' Captain Baker, how do you store yer carga
Some I stow for'ard, boys, an' some I stow arter (arta)

Oh, there's forty fathom or more below, boys
Oh, forty fathom or more below, boys

Oh, way high ya, an' up she rises
Oh, way high ya, the blocks is different sizes

Oh, one more pull, don't ya hear the mate a-bawlin?
Oh, one more pull, the blocks is different sizes

TIME ASHORE IS OVER - Track 16

I am standing on the dockyard wall
Sailing on the evening tide
Waiting for the skipper's call
Time ashore, bright hours ashore
Time ashore is over

Sally watching as I go
Tear filled eyes, two kids in tow

And what of her when we're outward bound
Will she be true or gad around

I can't recall when she was mine
For more than two days at a time

When you're out on the northern sea
It's a thousand miles of uncertainty

I think of her when the nets go out
My heart is sure but my head's in doubt

Life or love I could lose it all
For following this cursed trawl