COLLECTED FROM GEORGE PATTISON

HAUL ON THE BOWLINE

Hauling
George Pattison
Cape de Couedie Lighthouse
Kangaroo island
South Australia
4 Dec 1924 (and 1941)
Clive Carey SS407

Haul out the bowline, oh the ship’s a-rolling
Haul out the bowline, the bowline haul.

Haul out the bowline, hear the old man growling

Haul out the bowline, the chief mate’s a-howling

Haul out the bowline, ballyards, sheets a-hauling

Haul out the bowline, hear the wind a-bawling.

Haul out the bowline, up the Channel goin’

Haul on the bowline, hear the girls a-callin’

Haul away the bowline, the main top's’le bowling

Haul on the bowline, make fast the bowline – haul!

One of the best known work songs but, once again, Pattison’s version is quite a way from the Hugill ‘standard’ text. Even Hugill says ‘The Port of Liverpool, and Kitty of Liverpool were rarely, if ever, omitted by the shanty man.” Well, they were omitted in Pattison’s text!

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