Haul Away the Bowline

Short-drag shanty. This may be one of the oldest around: the bowline was a line used to pull the weather edge of a square sail as far out to windward as possible when reaching. It was largely made obsolete by the introduction of staysails in the early eighteenth century. Recorded by MacColl and Lloyd as Haul on the Bowline.

Haul Away the Bowline
 
Haul away the bowline Kitty is me darlin’
Haul away the bowline, the bowline, haul
Haul on the bowline so early in the mornin’
Haul away the bowline, the bowline, haul
Haul on the bowline before the day is dawnin’
Haul away the bowline, the bowline, haul
Haul on the bowline the fore t’gallant bowline
Haul away the bowline, the bowline, haul
Haul on the bowline the wind she is a-howlin’
Haul away the bowline, the bowline, haul
Haul on the bowline the mate he is a-growlin’
Haul away the bowline, the bowline, haul
Haul on the bowline we’ll either break or bend it
Haul away the bowline, the bowline, haul
Haul on the bowline we’re men enough to mend it
Haul away the bowline, the bowline, haul
Haul on the bowline we’ll haul away together
Haul away the bowline, the bowline, haul
Haul on the bowline we’ll haul for better weather
Haul away the bowline, the bowline, haul
Haul on the bowline the bonnie, bonnie bowline
Haul away the bowline, the bowline, haul
Haul on the bowline up to the jaybird’ altar
Haul away the bowline, the bowline, haul
prettiest girl I ever saw was cruisin’ on the water
Haul away the bowline, the bowline, haul
I went down to New Orleans and got there on a Monday
Haul away the bowline, the bowline, haul
threw me in the callaboose for drinkin’ rum on Sunday
Haul away the bowline, the bowline, haul
haul on the bowline, the bowline, the bowline
Haul away the bowline, the bowline, haul