Little Sally Racket
Bellowhead Lyrics


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Little Sally Racket
Haul her away!
She pawned my best jacket
Haul her away!
And she lost the ticket
Haul her away!

Little Daisy Dawson
Haul her away!
She's got flannel drawers on
Haul her away!
So says our old Bosun
Haul her away!
To me haul-e-high-low
Haul her away!

Instrumental

Little Suzie Skinner
Haul her away!
Says she's a beginner
Haul her away!
But prefers it to her dinner
Haul her away!

Little Flo Fanana
Haul her away!
Slipped on a banana
Haul her away!
But she can't play the pianer
Haul her away!
To me haul-e-high-low
Haul her away!

Instrumental

[a capella]

Little Kitty Carson
Ran off with a parson
Now she has a little barson
To me haul-e-high-low
Haul her away

Little Nancy Tucket
Washes in a bucket
She's a whore but she don't look it
To me haul-e-high-low
[end of a cappella]
Haul her away

Little Rosie Riddle
Haul her away!
Broke her brand-new fiddle
Haul her away!
Got a hole right down the middle
Haul her away!

Up my fighting cocks now
Haul her away!
Up and split her blocks now
Haul her away!
Up and stretch her luff now
Haul her away!
That'll be enough now
To me haul-e-high-low
Haul her away!

Instrumental





To me haul-e-high-low!
Haul her away!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Little Sally Racket" are a series of chants about different women, each with their own unique stories. The song appears to be sung from the perspective of sailors who are bawdy and crude in their description of these women. The first verse tells the story of Little Sally Racket, who has pawned the singer's best jacket and lost the ticket. The second verse describes Little Daisy Dawson, who is wearing flannel drawers according to the Bosun. The third verse introduces Little Suzie Skinner, who is a beginner at something but prefers it to her dinner. The fourth verse is about Little Flo Fanana, who slipped on a banana and can't play the pianer. The fifth verse tells the story of Little Kitty Carson, who ran off with a parson and now has a little barson. The sixth verse is about Little Nancy Tucket, who washes in a bucket and is described as "a whore but she don't look it." The final verse is about Little Rosie Riddle, who broke her brand-new fiddle and has a hole right down the middle. The song concludes with the sailors chanting "haul her away!" repeatedly.


The song "Little Sally Racket" is a traditional English folk song that has been covered by different artists over the years, including Bellowhead. The song is believed to have originated in the 18th century and was often performed by sailors and working-class people in taverns and public gatherings. The lyrics are full of innuendo and double entendres, which makes it difficult to determine the exact meaning of each verse. The women in the song are portrayed as objects of ridicule, and the sailors seem to take pleasure in their misfortunes. Despite its bawdy nature, "Little Sally Racket" remains a popular song to this day, and it has been performed by various bands and artists in different genres.


Line by Line Meaning

Little Sally Racket
Someone named Sally Racket who is young or small.


Haul her away!
Take her away or move her somewhere else.


She pawned my best jacket
She borrowed money and exchanged her best jacket as collateral.


And she lost the ticket
She misplaced or lost the receipt or proof of ownership of the item.


Little Daisy Dawson
Someone named Daisy Dawson who is young or small.


She's got flannel drawers on
She's wearing undergarments that are made of cotton material.


So says our old Bosun
The old officer in charge of the ship says so.


To me haul-e-high-low
To move something or someone up or away in a rhythmic movement.


Little Suzie Skinner
Someone named Suzie Skinner who is young or small.


Says she's a beginner
She claims that she's still learning or not yet skilled in something.


But prefers it to her dinner
She likes doing something more than eating her meal.


Little Flo Fanana
Someone named Flo Fanana who is young or small.


Slipped on a banana
She fell on a banana that was on the ground.


But she can't play the pianer
She's not able to play the piano properly.


Little Kitty Carson
Someone named Kitty Carson who is young or small.


Ran off with a parson
She eloped with a clergyman or a religious official.


Now she has a little barson
She now has a baby or young child.


Little Nancy Tucket
Someone named Nancy Tucket who is young or small.


Washes in a bucket
She cleans herself by washing with water in a container.


She's a whore but she don't look it
She's a prostitute but doesn't have the typical appearance or behavior of one.


Little Rosie Riddle
Someone named Rosie Riddle who is young or small.


Broke her brand-new fiddle
She damaged her new violin instrument.


Got a hole right down the middle
The violin has a hole in the center part.


Up my fighting cocks now
Initiating a rooster fighting competition.


Up and split her blocks now
Breaking or destroying blocks or things that belong to her.


Up and stretch her luff now
Stretching or extending the enclosure sails of a ship.


That'll be enough now
Stopping or putting an end to what they were doing or saying.


To me haul-e-high-low
To move something or someone up or away in a rhythmic movement.


Haul her away!
Take her away or move her somewhere else.




Contributed by Caden O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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