Haul Away Joe

A short-drag shanty so ubiquitous that its name is synonymous with the very term sea shanty. Though its first commercial recording was a performance by Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter in the 1940s, some sources have suggested it originates in the 18th century.

This song has been performed by nearly every folk singer in the last century, its variation in lyrics and arrangement are positively staggering.

It appears as the opening track on Between Wind and Water, and was also released as a live recording on the physical copy of the album Bones in the Ocean.

Lyrics
These lyrics are based on the version performed by the Longest Johns on their album, Between Wind and Water. When I was just a little lad or so me mammy told me, (Away haul away, we'll haul away Joe.) That if I didn't kiss the girls me lips would grow a-moldy. (Away haul away, we'll haul away Joe.) {Chorus} Away (Ho!) haul away! we'll haul away together! Away haul away, we'll haul away Joe. Away (Ho!) haul away! we'll haul for better weather. Away haul away, we'll haul away Joe. I used to have an Irish girl, but she got fat and lazy (Away haul away, we'll haul away Joe.) But now I've got a Bristol girl, and she just drives me crazy (Away haul away, we'll haul away Joe.) {Chorus} Old Louis was the king of France before the revolut-i-on. (Away haul away, we'll haul away Joe.) But then he got his head chopped off an' it spoiled his constitut-i-on. (Away haul away, we'll haul away Joe.) {Chorus} You call yourself a second mate, you cannae tie a bowline, (Away haul away, we'll haul away Joe.) You can't even stand up straight, when the packet she's a rollin' (Away haul away, we'll haul away Joe.) {Chorus} Well now can't you see the black clouds a-gatherin'. (Away haul away, we'll haul away Joe.) Well now can't you see the storm clouds a-risin'. (Away haul away, we'll haul away Joe.) {Chorus}