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> Steeleye Span > Songs > Haul on the Bowline
> Martyn Wyndham-Read > Songs > Haul on the Bowline

Haul on the Bowline

[ Roud 652 ; Ballad Index Doe009b ; trad.]

This short-drag shanty was recorded in 1956 by A.L. Lloyd and chorus on his, Ewan MacColl and Harry H. Corbett's album The Singing Sailor. Like most of the tracks from these recording sessions it has been reissued lots of times, e.g. on their albums Row Bullies Row, Singing Sailors (Wattle Records) and Haul on the Bowlin' (Stinson Records), and on the compilation CD Sailors' Songs & Sea Shanties. The latter album's sleeve note comment:

Until the end of the days of sail this shanty remained a favourite song for sheeting home the foresail and for other jobs calling for a few good pulls. The pull came on the word “haul” at the end of each verse.

Ewan MacColl recorded the song a second time in 1960 for his and A.L. Lloyd's album Blow Boys Blow, with the same verses but different accompaniment. A.L. Lloyd commented in the sleeve notes:

It has often been said that Haul on the Bowline dates at least from the time of Henry VIII. There is no direct evidence to back up the statement. Yet the shanty may be older than most, for it is a very long time since the bowline was an important rope that required much hauling on. Many a sailor, when he had time to draw breath and think it over, has wondered why this insignificant bowline should be made so much of in this short-drag shanty, which remained a favourite until the last days of sail.

and in the Sailors' Songs & Sea Shanties notes:

Until the end of the days of sail this shanty remained a favourite song for sheeting home the foresail and for other jobs calling for a few good pulls. The pull came on the word “haul” at the end of each verse.

The Young Tradition recorded four sea shanties, Fire Maringo, Hanging Johnny, Bring 'em Down, and Haul on the Bowline, for their 1967 EP Chicken on a Raft. Royston Wood sang lead on the first and third shanty, Peter Bellamy on the second and fourth. Like all tracks from the EP, they were included in the compilation album The Young Tradition Sampler and CD Galleries / Chicken on a Raft / No Relation. The EP sleeve notes comment:

Haul on the Bowline was used as a hauling shanty long after the bowline has ceased to be an important rope aboard ship. Peter learned this one from the unlikeliest-sounding source: Dave van Ronk, an American blues singer and guitarist.

Steeleye Span performed Bring 'Em Down and this shanty on September 15, 1971 for the BBC Radio 1 programme “Peel's Sunday Concert”. Tim Hart sang lead on this shanty. This programme was included in the 2006 CD reissue of Steeleye Span's third album, Ten Man Mop or Mr Reservoir Butler Rides Again.

Martyn Wyndham-Read sang Haul on the Bowline on the 1974 Topic LP Sea Shanties.

Lyrics

A.L. Lloyd sings Haul on the Bowline

Haul on the bowlin', the bully ship's a-rolling,
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!

Haul on the bowlin', Kitty is me darlin',
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!

Haul on the bowlin', Kitty comes from Liverpool,
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!

Haul on the bowlin', it's a far cry to payday,
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!

The Young Tradition sing Haul on the Bowline

Haul on the bowlin', Kitty is me darlin',
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!

Haul on the bowlin', Kitty comes from Liverpool,
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!

Haul on the bowlin' so early in the mornin',
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!

Haul on the bowlin' and the old man he's a-growlin',
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!

Haul on the bowlin' before she starts a-rowlin',
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!

Haul on the bowlin' but we don't know where we're going,
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!

Haul on the bowlin' and we don't know where we're sailing from,
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!

Haul on the bowlin' and the sooner we're get going,
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!

Haul on the bowlin', well the third we comes homes again,
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!

Haul on the bowlin', it's a weary way to Liverpool,
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!

Haul on the bowlin', it's a far cry to payday,
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!

Steeleye Span sing Haul on the Bowline

Haul on the bowlin', me Kitty comes from Liverpool,
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!

Haul on the bowlin', me Kitty is me darlin',
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!

Haul on the bowlin', so early in the mornin',
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!

Haul on the bowlin', another day was dawning,
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!

Haul on the bowlin', the gale it is a howling,
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!

Haul on the bowlin', the cook he is a-growlin',
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!

Haul on the bowlin', we're leaving altogether,
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!

Haul on the bowlin', we'll bust the chafe in leather,
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!

Haul on the bowlin', we'll all away together,
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!

Acknowledgements

Transcribed by Reinhard Zierke