Haul on the Bowline
Bob Neuwirth Lyrics
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Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!
Haul on the bowline, before she start a-rolling
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!
Haul on the bowline, the Captain is a-growling
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!
Haul on the bowline, so early in the morning
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!
Haul on the bowline, to Bristol we are going
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!
Haul on the bowline, Kitty is my darling
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!
Haul on the bowline, Kitty comes from Liverpool
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!
Haul on the bowline, It's far cry to pay day
Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!
The song Haul On The Bowline by Bob Neuwirth is a traditional sea shanty that was sung by sailors while hauling on a bowline to turn a ship's bow into the wind. The song has a rhythm that is well-suited for this task and each verse is accompanied by a strong, rhythmic chorus. The first verse states that homeward the sailors are going and that they need to haul on the bowline. The chorus "Haul on the bowlin', the bowlin' haul!" reinforces the importance of this action.
The second verse indicates the urgency of the situation as the sailors need to haul on the bowline before the ship starts rolling. The captain is described as growling, which suggests that the sailors are under pressure to act quickly. The third verse suggests that the sailors are up early in the morning and that they need to haul on the bowline to get the ship back to Bristol. The fourth verse introduces a character named Kitty, who is the singer's darling. The final verse suggests that the sailors are always waiting for payday, as it is a long time until they receive their wages.
Overall, the song captures the essence of life at sea in the 19th century when sailors worked long hours in difficult conditions. The simple yet powerful lyrics reflect the hard work, determination and camaraderie that was required to sail a ship across the oceans.
Line by Line Meaning
Haul on the bowline, homeward we are going
Let's pull on the rope that steers us home.
Haul on the bowline, before she start a-rolling
Pull on the rope before the ship starts rolling side to side.
Haul on the bowline, the Captain is a-growling
The Captain is getting angry, so let's pull on the rope to obey his command.
Haul on the bowline, so early in the morning
Let's start pulling on the rope early in the morning to get the ship moving.
Haul on the bowline, to Bristol we are going
We need to pull on the rope to steer the ship towards Bristol.
Haul on the bowline, Kitty is my darling
While we work hard pulling on the rope, I long for my beloved Kitty.
Haul on the bowline, Kitty comes from Liverpool
My beloved Kitty is from Liverpool.
Haul on the bowline, It's far cry to pay day
We have a long way to go until we get paid, so let's keep pulling on the rope to get the job done.
Contributed by Madelyn W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sherry
on Everbody's Got a Job to Do
He just got fired by his wife or girlfriend! It’s about a relationship, job is just a metaphor. Neuwirth has a sly sense of humor