Haul Boys Haul

(Trad)

 

When I was a schoolboy, I lived at home at ease

Now I am a trawling man, I sail the wintry seas

I thought I’d like seafaring life, ‘twas all right til I found

It’s a darn sight worse than slavery when we got on the ground.

 

And it was haul boys haul, haul boys haul

Heave away the capstan lads and let’s get up the trawl

When the winds are blowing and the ships are gently rolling,

My Emma, my Emma won’t you be true to me?

 

Now every night in winter, as regular as a clock

It’s on your old sou’wester, likewise your oilskin frock.

And then up to the capstan lads, and then it’s heave away

For that’s the cry in the middle of the night as well as in the day

 

And it was haul boys haul, haul boys haul

Heave away the capstan lads and let’s get up the trawl

When the winds are blowing and the ships are gently rolling,

My Emma, my Emma won’t you be true to me?

 

Now when the fish are up on deck and piling to our knees

We slip and slide and wonder why we ever went to sea

But when ashore we’ll sell the catch, that’s easier to bear

For it’s beer all night in The Jenny Lind when we get paid our share.

 

And it was haul boys haul, haul boys haul

Heave away the capstan lads and let’s get up the trawl

When the winds are blowing and the ships are gently rolling,

My Emma, my Emma won’t you be true to me?

 

And now winter passing over and springtime coming on

We go out in all weathers, no time for beer nor song

For fish don’t wait for lovers boys, as you might quickly find

Put on your oilskin jackets lad and leave the girls behind.

 

And it was haul boys haul, haul boys haul

Heave away the capstan lads and let’s get up the trawl

When the winds are blowing and the ships are gently rolling,

My Emma, my Emma won’t you be true to me?

 

And when our trip is over, hard up out tiller goes

And straight ways into Yarmouth with a big jib on the nose

And when we reach the pier head all the girls will loudly say

‘Here come our jolly trawling lads, who have been so long away.’

 

And it was haul boys haul, haul boys haul

Heave away the capstan lads and let’s get up the trawl

When the winds are blowing and the ships are gently rolling,

My Emma, my Emma won’t you be true to me?

 

And it was haul boys haul, haul boys haul

Heave away the capstan lads and let’s get up the trawl

When the winds are blowing and the ships are gently rolling,

My Emma, my Emma won’t you be true to me?