{title: Haul Away Joe}
{artist: Traditional}
{key: D}
{tempo: 80}
{difficulty: beginner}
{tags: shanty, halyard, traditional, singalong}
{audio: /static/audio/haul-away-joe.mp3}
{credit: Audio: John Goss & the Cathedral Male Voice Quartet, 'Haul Away Joe' (78rpm, 1927). Public domain. Source: Internet Archive Great 78 Project.}
{video: youtube:wEti6afA_Uk}
{credit: The Longest Johns - 'Haul Away Joe' (live on the SS Great Britain). Traditional short-drag shanty (PD composition).}

{c: Traditional halyard shanty. Public domain. The Okee Dokee Brothers covered this one on Saddle Up — perfect bridge from kid folk to shanties.}
{c: Halyard shanties were sung when sailors were hauling on a rope to raise a sail. Two strong pulls per chorus phrase.}

{c: Verse 1}
[D]When I was a little lad, my [G]mother often told me
[D]Way, [Bm]haul away, we'll [A]haul away [D]Joe
That [D]if I didn't kiss the girls my [G]lips would all grow mouldy
[D]Way, [Bm]haul away, we'll [A]haul away [D]Joe

{c: Chorus}
Way, [D]haul away, we'll [G]haul away to[D]gether
Way, [Bm]haul away, we'll [A]haul away [D]Joe
Way, [D]haul away, we'll [G]haul for better [D]weather
Way, [Bm]haul away, we'll [A]haul away [D]Joe

{c: Verse 2}
[D]King Louis was the King of France be[G]fore the Revolution
[D]Way, [Bm]haul away, we'll [A]haul away [D]Joe
But [D]then he got his head cut off, which [G]spoiled his constitution
[D]Way, [Bm]haul away, we'll [A]haul away [D]Joe

{c: Chorus}

{c: Verse 3}
Oh [D]once I was in Ireland a-[G]digging turf and 'taters
[D]Way, [Bm]haul away, we'll [A]haul away [D]Joe
But [D]now I'm on a Yankee ship a-[G]hauling on the braces
[D]Way, [Bm]haul away, we'll [A]haul away [D]Joe

{c: Chorus}

{c: Verse 4 — floating verse, sub in any "Once I was..." or "Way down south..." you fancy}
Oh [D]once I had a Spanish girl, and [G]she was fat and lazy
[D]Way, [Bm]haul away, we'll [A]haul away [D]Joe
And [D]then I had a Yankee girl who [G]nearly drove me crazy
[D]Way, [Bm]haul away, we'll [A]haul away [D]Joe

{c: Final chorus — slow it down, big finish}

{c: PRACTICE NOTES}
{c: This is THE textbook halyard shanty. Heavy emphasis on the "haul away" — the crew physically pulled on those words.}
{c: Strum: hard downstroke on 1 (the pull), softer chuck on 2-3-4. Tempo is slow — around 70-80 BPM.}
{c: The verses are call-and-response: leader sings the first half, crew answers "Way, haul away..."}
{c: Make up your own verses — that's the tradition. Anything that fits the metre works.}