The Longest Johns formed in June 2012 after first singing together at a friend's barbecue. The original line up consisted of Josh Bowker, Andy Yates, Jonathan Darley and Dave Robinson. About a week later, they posted their first video on YouTube, singing "Haul Away Joe." They released their debut EP, Bones in the Ocean, in 2013, the title track of which is still one of their most popular. Their first full album, Written in Salt, was released in 2016, featuring tracks such as Drunken Sailor, Old Maui and Randy Dandy-O.
In June 2018 they released their second album, Between Wind & Water, which contained the smash hit "Wellerman". This recording, as well as the one used in the bands' Sea of Thieves series "Open Crewsing" would go on to cause the viral sensation in the years to come.
In October 2019, the band announced that Anna Cornish would be leaving the band to focus on her other band, The Norfolk Broads.
In March 2020, they released a song titled "Flatten the Curve", urging people to stay indoors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In June 2020, the band released their third studio album, Cures What Ails Ya. This album was the Johns' first album featuring a full array of instruments on half of the songs.
In March 2023, The Longest Johns released a collab album, The Longest Pony, featuring collabs with the Barcelona folk group, El Pony Pisador. The album features the song "Al Pirata Joan Torrellas" which sung only in Catalan.
On 1 May 2023, the band announced the departure of founding member Dave Robinson.
Blow the Man Down
The Longest Johns Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(To me! Wey hey, blow the man down)
And pray pay attention and listen to me
(Give me some time to blow the man down)
I'm a deep water sailor just in from Hong Kong
(To me! Wey hey, blow the man down)
If you buy me a drink, then I'll sing you a song
(Give me some time to blow the man down)
{Chorus} Blow the man down, bullies, blow the man down
Wey hey, blow the man down
Blow him right back into Liverpool town
Give me some time to blow the man down
There's tinkers and tailors and soldiers and all
(To me! Wey hey, blow the man down)
They all ship for sailors on board the Black Ball
(Give me some time to blow the man down)
You'll see those poor devils how they will all scoot
(Wey hey, blow the man down)
Aisted along by the toe of a boot
(Give me some time to blow the man down)
It's starboard and larboard on deck they will sprawl
(To me! Wey hey, blow the man down)
For kickin' Jack Williams commands the Black Ball
(Give me some time to blow the man down)
Lay aft now, ya lubbers, lay aft now I say
(To me! Wey hey, blow the man down)
I'll none of yer dodges on my ship today
(Give me some time to blow the man down)
So I'll give you fair warning before we belay
(To me! Wey hey, blow the man down)
Don't ever take heed of what chantymen say
(Give me some time to blow the man down)
{Chorus til finish}
The Longest John's "Blow the Man Down" is a sea shanty that talks about the life of a young sailor who has recently come off a ship from Hong Kong. The first two lines of the song call out to all young sailors to listen to the story that follows.
The singer claims to be a "deep water sailor" and offers to sing a song if someone buys him a drink. The chorus then gets introduced, calling out "blow the man down," which is a reference to knocking someone down with brute force. It's unclear who the man is in this context, but it's possibly a reference to an authoritative figure or an obstacle in the path of the sailors.
The song then carries on to discuss how various blue-collar workers like tinkers, tailors, and soldiers all ship off to become sailors on board the Black Ball. The lyrics also suggest that the life of a sailor isn't easy, given how they face disrespectful and cruel commanders like Kickin' Jack Williams.
Overall, the song portrays how life as a sailor is rife with challenges and obstacles, and the sailors survive by sticking together through the tough times.
Line by Line Meaning
Come all ye young fellows who follow the sea,
Hey young sailors, listen up to what I have to say!
(To me! Wey hey, blow the man down)
Join me and let's sing together!
And pray pay attention and listen to me
Please give me your attention and hear me out
(Give me some time to blow the man down)
Just let me sing my song
I'm a deep water sailor just in from Hong Kong
I'm an experienced sailor who just arrived from Hong Kong
If you buy me a drink, then I'll sing you a song
If you get me a drink, I'll sing for you
{Chorus} Blow the man down, bullies, blow the man down
Wey hey, blow the man down
Blow him right back into Liverpool town
Give me some time to blow the man down
Let's sing together this song about blowing the man down and send him back to Liverpool
There's tinkers and tailors and soldiers and all
All kinds of people became sailors
They all ship for sailors on board the Black Ball
They all join the crew of the Black Ball ship
You'll see those poor devils how they will all scoot
You'll see those sailors being punished and run away
(Wey hey, blow the man down)
Sing it loud and clear!
Aisted along by the toe of a boot
Being kicked off the ship
It's starboard and larboard on deck they will sprawl
They'll be lying on the deck, both on the right and left sides
For kickin' Jack Williams commands the Black Ball
Captain Jack Williams is in charge of the Black Ball ship
Lay aft now, ya lubbers, lay aft now I say
Come to the stern, you lazy sailors! Come here!
I'll none of yer dodges on my ship today
I won't tolerate any tricks on my ship today
So I'll give you fair warning before we belay
I'm warning you ahead of time
Don't ever take heed of what chantymen say
Don't believe everything the chantymen sing or say
{Chorus til finish}
Let's keep singing the chorus until the end
Contributed by Carter K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.