Since the choir was established, they have managed to release 5 cds and done lots of concerts and performances. Some of the highlights of the past few years have been the Langesund International Shantyfestival, Festival Maritim in Bremen (Germany), Telemarkfestivalen in Bø and Bergenfest 2006, and they are currently doing well in Japan. Feedback from their concerts have been very good, and they think that the main reason for their “little success” is that they enjoy so much doing this, and also that they allow and encourage their guests to sing along!
Theyr mission and main directives is to bring forth a forgotten song tradition. At the same time they wish to give their audience, and themselves, a lot of fun, and experience the pleasure of salty folk music. With the old true sailors in mind, they wish to give the shanties all the power, humour and respect they deserve.
The most of their stuff is done a cappella, but they also include mandolin, flute, and guitar on some of their songs. As far as it is possible, they do their concerts without any microphones. "They did not use microphones while rounding the salty Cape Horn, so we should be able to do the same in a pub!!"
Band members: Håkon Vatle, Ronny Sætre, Rune Nesse, Vidar Vedå, Roald Kaldestad and Gisle Østrem
Hieland Laddie
Storm Weather Shanty Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hieland Laddie, bonnie Laddie
Launching timber on the deck
Me bonnie Hieland Laddie-o
Was you ever in Mobile Bay
Hieland Laddie, bonnie Laddie
Screwin cotton on a summers day
Was you ever off Cape Horn
Hieland Laddie, bonnie Laddie
Where the weather's never warm
Me bonnie Hieland Laddie-o
Way hey and away we'll go
Hieland Laddie, bonnie Laddie
Way hey and away we'll go
Me bonnie Hieland Laddie-oh!
Was you ever in Miramshee
Hieland Laddie, bonnie Laddie
Where you tie up to a tree
Bonnie Hieland Laddie-o
Way hey and away we'll go
Hieland Laddie, bonnie Laddie
Way hey and away we'll go
Me bonnie Hieland Laddie-oh!
Was you ever in London town
Hieland Laddie, bonnie Laddie
where the girls they do come down
Bonnie Hieland Laddie-o
And was you ever in Bombay
Hieland Laddie, bonnie Laddie
Drinking coffee and bohea
Me bonnie Hieland Laddie-o
Way hey and away we'll go
Hieland Laddie, bonnie Laddie
Way hey and away we'll go
Me bonnie Hieland Laddie-oh!
Was you ever in Vallipo
Hieland Laddie, bonnie Laddie
where the girls put up a show
Me bonnie Hieland Laddie-o
Was you ever in Mobile Bay
Hieland Laddie, bonnie Laddie
where the girls all shout hooray!
Me bonnie Hieland Laddie-o
Way hey and away we'll go
Hieland Laddie, bonnie Laddie
Way hey and away we'll go
Me bonnie Hieland Laddie-oh!
Way hey and away we'll go
Hieland Laddie, bonnie Laddie
Way hey and away we'll go
Me bonnie Hieland Laddie-oh!
Me bonnie Hieland Laddie-oh!
Me bonnie Hieland Laddie-oh!
Me bonnie Hieland Laddie-oh!
Me bonnie Hieland Laddie-oh!
The song "Hieland Laddie" is a sea shanty that describes various ports and cities that the singer has visited. The chorus "Way hey and away we'll go, Hieland Laddie, bonnie Laddie, Way hey and away we'll go, Me bonnie Hieland Laddie-oh!" is a typical shanty call for sailors to work together in rhythm. The first verse describes launching timber on the deck in Quebec, with the Scottish pronunciation of "Highland Laddie" adding a touch of pride and nostalgia for home. The second verse talks about screwing cotton on a summer's day in Mobile Bay, implying the difficult manual labour undertaken by the sailors. The third verse references Cape Horn, where the weather is notoriously treacherous and the sailors would have endured great hardship. The fourth verse mentions Miramshee and tying up to a tree, providing some moments of rest and reprieve from their labour. The fifth and sixth verses describe London and Bombay respectively, highlighting the exotic locations visited by the sailors during their travels, where they drank coffee and bohea tea. The final two verses refer to Vallipo and Mobile Bay again, with the girls putting on a show and shouting hooray, suggesting that the sailors received a warm welcome at the ports they visited.
Overall, the song captures the experiences of sailors travelling across the world, encountering different cultures, facing difficult weather conditions and undertaking strenuous manual labour. It also highlights the camaraderie and shared experiences of the sailors, working together and singing shanties as they go about their work.
Line by Line Meaning
Was you ever in Quebec
Have you ever been to Quebec?
Hieland Laddie, bonnie Laddie
Reference to the person being addressed as a brave and handsome man from the Highlands of Scotland.
Launching timber on the deck
Loading logs on a ship's deck.
Me bonnie Hieland Laddie-o
My handsome Highland man.
Was you ever in Mobile Bay
Have you ever been to Mobile Bay?
Screwin cotton on a summers day
Packing cotton on a hot summer day.
Was you ever off Cape Horn
Have you ever sailed around Cape Horn?
Where the weather's never warm
Where the climate is always cold and harsh.
Way hey and away we'll go
A shout of encouragement to continue the journey without fear.
Was you ever in Miramshee
Have you ever been to Miramichi?
Where you tie up to a tree
Where you moor the ship to a tree on the riverbank.
Was you ever in London town
Have you ever been to London?
Where the girls they do come down
Where beautiful ladies come out to greet you.
And was you ever in Bombay
And have you ever been to Bombay?
Drinking coffee and bohea
Drinking tea and coffee.
Was you ever in Vallipo
Have you ever been to Valparaiso?
Where the girls put up a show
Where the ladies entertain with a performance.
where the girls all shout hooray!
Where ladies cheer and celebrate.
Contributed by Aria A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.