Haul Her Along

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Heave on the bowline, rock and roll the towline,
Heave on the bowline with a shanty song;
Heave on the bowline, rock and roll the towline,
Heave on the bowline and haul her along.

I went out to ramble on a summer day,
I spied the lads a-launchin' a schooner in the bay;
They were heavin' and haulin' to a shanty song,
I took my place upon the line and hauled her right along.

Said,
Heave on the bowline, rock and roll the towline,
Heave on the bowline with a shanty song;
Heave on the bowline, rock and roll the towline,
Heave on the bowline and haul her along.

We sang to Johnny Poker and Lord, Let Her Go,
With the strength of fifty men we had on the roll;
The whole bay had gathered, the place was mad alive,
They joined in the chorus down to the water side.

Said,
Heave on the bowline, rock and roll the towline,
Heave on the bowline with a shanty song;
Heave on the bowline, rock and roll the towline,
Heave on the bowline and haul her along.

We had her on the land wash, ready for the waves,
With the risin' of the tide, she floated from her weighs;
We bid her good fair landings and a good holding ground,
And sang a final chorus for a vessel fine and sound.

Heave on the bowline, rock and roll the towline,
Heave on the bowline with a shanty song;
Heave on the bowline, rock and roll the towline,
Heave on the bowline and haul her along.

####.... Glenn Vincent Breen of St. John's, NL and Halifax, NS (Over The Sea, 1998) ....####

Recorded by Celtic Connection on Best Of Ten Years Together, Singalongs And Shanties 2, and Homebrew 3 (Avondale Music). A variant was also recorded by the Ennis Sisters on Ennis Sisters 3 (Avondale Music).

See more Ennis Sisters songs.

From the Winterton Boat Building Museum in Winterton, NL:
Johnny Poker is a shanty that helped everyone pull in unison.

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Notes On Guitar Tabs:
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All guitar tabs have been contributed by visitors to this site and represent their interpretation of the tune. We are unable to verify their accuracy.

(As recorded by Celtic Connection)

Chorus: (a-cappella)
Heave on the bowline rock and roll the towline,
Heave on the bowline with a shanty song;
Heave on the bowline rock and roll the towline,
Heave on the bowline and haul her [A] along. [A] [A]

I went out to [E] ramble [D] on a summer day,
I [A] spied the lads a- [E] launchin' a [D] schooner in the [E] bay;
They were [A] heavin' and [E] haulin' [D] to a shanty [E] song,
I [A] took my place upon the line and [D] hauled her [E] right a- [A] long.

Said,
Chorus:
Heave on the [E] bowline, [D] rock and roll the [E] towline,
[A] Heave on the bowline [D] with a shanty [E] song;
[A] Heave on the [E] bowline, [D] rock and roll the [E] towline,
[A] Heave on the bowline and [D] haul [E] her a- [A] long.

We sang to Johnny [E] Poker, and [D] Lord, Let Her Go,
With the [A] strength of fifty [E] men we [D] had on the [E] roll;
The [A] whole bay had [E] gathered, the [D] place was mad a- [E] live,
They [A] joined in the chorus down [D] to the [E] water [A] side.

Interlude: Mandolin lead (Chorus Chords)

We had her on the [E] land wash, [D] ready for the waves,
With [A] the risin' of the [E] tide, she [D] floated from her [E] weighs;
We [A] bid her good fair [E] landings and a [D] good holding [E] ground,
And [A] sang a final chorus for a [D] vessel [E] fine and [A] sound.

Chorus:
Heave on the [E] bowline, [D] rock and roll the [E] towline,
[A] Heave on the bowline [D] with a shanty [E] song;
[A] Heave on the [E] bowline, [D] rock and roll the [E] towline,
[A] Heave on the bowline and [D] haul [E] her a- [A] long.

Outro: Mandolin lead (Chorus Chords)

~ Chords contribued by Bob Dumais ~