South Australia
Port Isaac's Fisherman's Friends Lyrics


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In South Australia I was born
heave away, haul away
In South Australia round Cape Horn
We're bound for South Australia
Haul away you rolling kings
To me heave away, haul away
Haul away, you'll hear me sing
We're bound for South Australia
As I walked out one morning fair
'Twas there I met Miss Nancy Blair
I sher up and I sher down
I sher round and round the town
I run her all night and I run her all day
And I run her until we sailed away
There ain't but one thing grieves me mind
To leave Miss Nancy Blair behind
And as we wallop around Cape Horn
You'll wish to God you'd never been born
In South Australia my native land
Full of rocks and thieves and fleas and sand




I wish I was on Australia's strand
With a bottle of whiskey in my hand

Overall Meaning

The song "South Australia" by Port Isaac's Fisherman's Friends is a traditional shanty that tells the story of a sailor who was born in South Australia and is heading back there after a long journey that has taken him around the world. The lyrics describe the sailor's longing for his homeland and a girl he met there named Nancy Blair. The song is filled with vivid imagery that paints a picture of life at sea and the hardships of being a sailor. The chorus, "Haul away, you rolling kings, we're bound for South Australia," is a call to action, urging the crew to work hard and keep the ship moving.


The first line of the song, "In South Australia I was born," sets the stage for the rest of the lyrics. The sailor is proud of his homeland and longs to return there. He describes the journey around Cape Horn as a difficult one, filled with danger and uncertainty. The mention of Nancy Blair adds a touch of romance to the song, and the sailor's regret at having to leave her behind is palpable.


Overall, "South Australia" is a powerful and evocative song that captures the spirit of life at sea and the longing for home that all sailors feel.


Line by Line Meaning

In South Australia I was born heave away, haul away
This line glorifies the place where the author was born, which obviously makes him proud of his roots. The phrase 'heave away, haul away' functions as a musical interlude to evoke an atmosphere of joy and celebration.


In South Australia round Cape Horn We're bound for South Australia
This line gives us the impression that the author, along with a group of people, is about to make a journey or embark on an adventure, and that their final destination is South Australia. Traveling around Cape Horn implies a long and arduous journey.


Haul away you rolling kings To me heave away, haul away Haul away, you'll hear me sing We're bound for South Australia
These lines reinforce the celebratory tone of the song and make references to hauling and heaving as part of a strenuous physical task, probably moving something heavy or traveling long distances. The repetition of 'haul away' and 'we're bound' suggest the resistance of the task at hand, but despite these struggles, they will persist.


As I walked out one morning fair 'Twas there I met Miss Nancy Blair I sher up and I sher down I sher round and round the town I run her all night and I run her all day And I run her until we sailed away
These lines depict a scene of the author casually strolling down a town and then bumping into Miss Nancy Blair. The phrase 'sher up and I sher down' is believed to mean that the author was trying to impress Miss Blair. The lines stating 'I run her all night and I run her all day' emphasizes how much effort the author was putting into winning Miss Blair's heart. They sailed away together, and the audience can assume that he succeeded.


There ain't but one thing grieves me mind To leave Miss Nancy Blair behind
This line reveals the author's regret of having to leave Miss Nancy Blair. It could mean that he is unsure about when he will see her again or if he will ever see her again.


And as we wallop around Cape Horn You'll wish to God you'd never been born
This line refers back to the journey earlier and the difficulties of the Cape Horn. The author reflects on how he and his companions were struggling against the elements, essentially saying that people might regret choosing this particular adventure.


In South Australia my native land Full of rocks and thieves and fleas and sand I wish I was on Australia's strand With a bottle of whiskey in my hand
These lines ironically showcase how the author loves his birthplace, South Australia, despite its flaws such as the presence of rocks, thieves, fleas, and sand. The author wishes he were somewhere else, most likely Australian soil with a bottle of whiskey. This could imply that he wishes he had taken a different life path.




Contributed by Kylie L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen

Not quite a South Australian but we share a border :) Love it! What a great rendition. Hope you don't mind me putting it here but here is a little nautical item I penned that I hope you enjoy. (Written about the south coast of Victoria along the Great Ocean Drive).

Shipwreck Coast

The weathered limestone buttress stands
against the pounding sea
The wind whips through the saltbush
Unharnessed, fresh, and free

The crashing waves assault the rocks
how solid they appear
but wind and waves are patient foes
that never count the years

The weathered rock is worn away
though it's an uphill climb
These mighty blocks will wear away
beset by tide and time

What a sight my eyes behold
along this rugged shore
where tall ships ran before the wind
and sails from rigging tore

Where now the seabirds wheel and dive
in to the briny foam
once shipwrecked souls beheld the cliffs
so far from hearth and home

Beheld their awful majesty
in freezing wind and rain
and only but a lucky few
would see their homes again

Though many years have passed since then
it comes as no surprise
that when the wind rips through the rocks
you'll hear the sailors cries.



@DariusOfPersia

In South Australia, I was born
Heave away, haul away!
South Australia, round Cape Horn
We're bound for South Australia!

Haul away, you rolling king!
Heave away, haul away!
Haul away, you'll hear me sing
"We're bound for South Australia!"

As I went out one morning fair
Heave away, haul away!
'Twas there I met Miss Nancy Blair
We're bound for South Australia!

Haul away, you rolling king!
Heave away, haul away!
Haul away, you'll hear me sing
"We're bound for South Australia!"

I shook her up, I shook her down
Heave away, haul away!
I shook her round about the town
We're bound for South Australia!

Haul away, you rolling king!
Heave away, haul away!
Haul away, you'll hear me sing
"We're bound for South Australia!"

There was but one thing creased my mind
Heave away, haul away!
'Twas to leave Miss Nancy Blair behind
We're bound for South Australia!

Haul away, you rolling king!
Heave away, haul away!
Haul away, you'll hear me sing
"We're bound for South Australia!"

As we went down around Cape Horn
Heave away, haul away!
You'll wish to God you'd never been born
We're bound for South Australia!

Haul away, you rolling king!
Heave away, haul away!
Haul away, you'll hear me sing
"We're bound for South Australia!"

In South Australia, I was born
Heave away, haul away!
South Australia, round Cape Horn
We're bound for South Australia!

Haul away, you rolling king!
Heave away, haul away!
Haul away, you'll hear me sing
"We're bound for South Australia!"



All comments from YouTube:

@NavyCWO

Many of their songs are over 200 years old, yet they still ring out in our hearts especially those of us who've made our living on the sea.

@emlix1

In this life or a previous one.

@grahamt5924

Just being English, these songs run very deep. Hearing people in a pub singing these brings a sense of togetherness like nothing else I know.

@scratchpad7954

Why is this song such a criminally underrated gem?! This kind of music sings to the core of my soul!

@timelliot9110

We have had a generation who have thrown away our heritage, and replaced it with Hollywood drivel.

@reemaravikashni9570

😮

@btf_flotsam478

It comes from Australia/New Zealand, like most good sea shanties (there's a reason why the Wellerman succeeded where Scottish 'sea shanties' failed), but is too blatantly about that area for the stupid ignorant people from the North Atlantic.

@DuramaterOZ

As a South Aussie born of Cornish descent, I love this version!

@dannypolglase6522

Same!

@sarahforbes4207

Same for me

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