Leave Her Alone
A.J. Brown Lyrics
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"Leave her, Johnny, leave her"
Tomorrow ye will get your pay
And it's time for us to leave her
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her
For the voyage is long and the winds don't blow
Oh, the wind was foul and the sea ran high
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
She shipped it green and none went by
And it's time for us to leave her
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her
For the voyage is long and the winds don't blow
And it's time for us to leave her
I hate to sail on this rotten tub
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
No grog allowed and rotten grub
And it's time for us to leave her
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her
For the voyage is long and the winds don't blow
And it's time for us to leave her
We swear by rote for want of more
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
But now we're through so we'll go on shore
And it's time for us to leave her
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her
For the voyage is long and the winds don't blow
And it's time for us to leave her
The song "Leave Her Alone" by A.J. Brown is actually a modern adaptation of the traditional sea shanty "Leave Her Johnny." The song tells the story of a sailor who is being encouraged by his crewmates and the captain to abandon a ship that has become run-down and unpleasant. The sailor is hesitant to leave because he knows that he will not receive his pay for the voyage, but eventually decides that it is better to get off the ship and seek out better things.
The lyrics of the song are filled with vivid imagery that captures the sense of hardship and danger that sailors faced on long voyages. The lines "the wind was foul and the sea ran high" and "she shipped it green and none went by" describe the treacherous conditions that make the sailor and his crewmates eager to abandon the ship. The references to "rotten grub" and the lack of "grog" (alcohol) highlight the unpleasant living conditions that sailors experienced on many ships during this time period.
In addition to the general theme of leaving a challenging situation in search of something better, the song also touches on the idea of camaraderie and mutual support among sailors. The repeated refrain of "leave her, Johnny, leave her" serves as a rallying cry for the men to stick together and carry on, even in the face of difficulty.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, I thought I heard the Old Man say
The singer is recalling hearing the captain say something.
"Leave her, Johnny, leave her"
The captain is telling Johnny to abandon the ship.
Tomorrow ye will get your pay
The crew will receive payment for their duties tomorrow.
And it's time for us to leave her
The ship has reached the end of its usefulness.
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
The captain is repeating his instruction to abandon the ship.
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her
The singer is encouraging Johnny to follow the captain's order.
For the voyage is long and the winds don't blow
The conditions are not favorable for sailing.
And it's time for us to leave her
The ship is no longer viable for use.
Oh, the wind was foul and the sea ran high
The weather was dangerous for sailing.
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
The captain is telling Johnny to abandon the ship.
She shipped it green and none went by
The ship was hit by a wave and no one was able to avoid it.
And it's time for us to leave her
The ship is no longer safe for use.
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
The captain is repeating his instruction to abandon the ship.
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her
The singer is encouraging Johnny to follow the captain's order.
For the voyage is long and the winds don't blow
The conditions are not favorable for sailing.
And it's time for us to leave her
The ship is no longer viable for use.
I hate to sail on this rotten tub
The artist dislikes sailing on this dilapidated ship.
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
The captain is telling Johnny to abandon the ship.
No grog allowed and rotten grub
The crew cannot enjoy alcoholic beverages and the food is of poor quality.
And it's time for us to leave her
The ship is no longer viable for use.
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
The captain is repeating his instruction to abandon the ship.
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her
The artist is encouraging Johnny to follow the captain's order.
For the voyage is long and the winds don't blow
The conditions are not favorable for sailing.
And it's time for us to leave her
The ship is no longer viable for use.
We swear by rote for want of more
The crew repeats an oath because they do not have any other way to express their dedication to their job.
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
The captain is telling Johnny to abandon the ship.
But now we're through so we'll go on shore
The crew has finished their duties and will disembark.
And it's time for us to leave her
The ship is no longer viable for use.
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
The captain is repeating his instruction to abandon the ship.
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her
The singer is encouraging Johnny to follow the captain's order.
For the voyage is long and the winds don't blow
The conditions are not favorable for sailing.
And it's time for us to leave her
The ship is no longer viable for use.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Traditional, Johnny Collins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind