Haul on the Bowline
A pulling shanty as John Short of Watchet sang it to Cecil Sharp, for 2 to 4 singers: the soprano is the shantyman, who sings the chorus first as his call and each verse's first line alone, and everyone answers "Haul on the bowline, the bowline haul" in harmony, landing together on the last "haul", where Sharp marks the pull. It ends with the whole chorus sung by everyone.
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The first verse
Words: traditional sea shanty (as sung by John Short, Watchet; printed 1914)Tune: traditional sea shanty (as sung by John Short, Watchet; printed 1914)
Haul on the bowline, O Kitty you are my darling,Haul on the bowline, the bowline, haul.
About Haul on the Bowline
Haul on the Bowline is a pulling shanty as John Short of Watchet sang it to Cecil Sharp, who wrote that his singer had spent more than fifty years in sailing ships. Sharp writes that the chanteyman often began by singing the refrain alone, to announce the chantey and remind the crew of the tune, and this one starts that way. Our arrangement is read from his English Folk-Chanteys of 1914, a tone higher, in D, on the harmony of his piano part. This is the call, two verses and the full chorus for 2 to 4 singers: the soprano is the shantyman, and everyone lands together on each answer's last "haul", where Sharp marks the pull.
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