The group has been performing locally since 1995, and signed a record deal with Universal Music in March 2010. Whilst essentially an a cappella group, their studio recordings and live performances now often include traditional simple instrumentation.
South Australia
The Fisherman's Friends Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In South Australia, 'round Cape Horn, we're bound for South Australia
Haul away your rolling king, heave away, haul away
Haul away, you'll hear me sing, we're bound for South Australia
As I walked out one morning fair, heave away, haul away
'Twas there I met Miss Nancy Blair, we're bound for South Australia
That's leaving Nancy Blair behind, we're bound for South Australia
And as we wallop round Cape Horn, heave away, haul away
You'll wish to God you've never been born, we're bound for South Australia
End Slowly
The Fisherman's Friends's "South Australia" is a classic folk song that tells the story of a sailor born in South Australia who is on a voyage to the other side of the world. The song reflects the life and aspirations of the sailors of the 19th century, who traveled around the globe dealing with storms, pirates, and missing their loved ones. The song is a reminder of the toughness of these men, their yearnings for adventure, and the cost of jobs that required them to be far away from home.
The classic maritime song presents vivid images of sailors at work on a ship as they prepare to sail from South Australia towards Cape Horn. The chorus, "heave away, haul away", describes the physical labor of hauling in the sail, while "haul away your rolling king" is a reference to the ship's capstan, a device used to control the anchors. The specific mention of Cape Horn, which is infamous for its rough waters and treacherous storms, demonstrates the dangers and difficulties that sailors faced on long voyages. The mention of the sailor's love for Miss Nancy Blair suggests the personal sacrifices that men had to make and the emotional hollowness of their lives as they navigated the seas.
Overall, "South Australia" is a quintessential sea shanty that embodies the courage and tenacity of sailors who made their way to the other side of the world in search of adventure, wealth, and a better life.
Line by Line Meaning
In South Australia I was born, heave away, haul away
I was born in the coastal region of South Australia and now we are setting sail from here
In South Australia, 'round Cape Horn, we're bound for South Australia
We are departing from South Australia and circumnavigating Cape Horn to eventually reach South Australia again
Haul away your rolling king, heave away, haul away
Use your strength to pull the ropes and prepare the ship for sailing
Haul away, you'll hear me sing, we're bound for South Australia
As we work to set sail, I am singing to keep our spirits high as we head towards South Australia
As I walked out one morning fair, heave away, haul away
One fine morning, I went for a walk and came across a woman named Miss Nancy Blair
'Twas there I met Miss Nancy Blair, we're bound for South Australia
That's where I first met Miss Nancy Blair and now we are heading to South Australia together on this ship
There's just one thing that's on my mind, heave away, haul away
My thoughts are consumed with leaving Miss Nancy Blair behind as we sail towards South Australia
That's leaving Nancy Blair behind, we're bound for South Australia
I am deeply conflicted about having to leave Miss Nancy Blair behind as we continue our journey to South Australia
And as we wallop round Cape Horn, heave away, haul away
As we travel around the treacherous Cape Horn, we need to keep working together to keep the ship sailing safely
You'll wish to God you've never been born, we're bound for South Australia
The journey will be difficult and may make some regret ever setting sail to South Australia, but we remain determined to reach our destination
Contributed by Alexander M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@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
đź
@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
stupidignorant people from the North Atlantic.@stephensnell5707
â@@btf_flotsam478you dickhead,this song is PURELY CORNISH AND FROM THE FISHERMANS' FRIENDS SINGERS OF PORT ISAAC IN CORNWALL
@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.
@liambirt7079
My family came from cornawll to South Australia in 1840. My dad has the ship and passenger list from then. I watched the movie tonight and loved it. Your songs are great. Im South Australian with Cornish history
@BarrioFabulous
Big thanks from a Texan who can't stop listening.