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.
Bonny Ship the Diamond
The Longest Johns Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The quay it is all garnished with bonnie lasses 'round
Captain Thompson gives the orders to sail the ocean wide
Where the sun it never sets, me lads, nor darkness dims the sky
For it's cheer up me lads, let your hearts never fail
For the bonny ship, the Diamond, goes a-fishing for the whale
For the bonny ship, the Diamond, goes a-fishing for the whale
Along the quay of Peterhead, the lasses stand around
Wi' their shawls all pulled around
Their necks and the salt tears runnin' down
Well don't you weep, my bonny lass, though you'll be left behind
For the rose will bloom on Greenland's ice before we change our mind
For it's cheer up me lads, let your hearts never fail
For the bonny ship, the Diamond, goes a-fishing for the whale
For it's cheer up me lads, let your hearts never fail
For the bonny ship, the Diamond, goes a-fishing for the whale
Here's a health to the Resolution (Hey), likewise the Eliza Swan
Three cheers to the Battler of Montrose and the Diamond, ship of fame
We wear the trousers of the white and the jackets of the blue
When we get back to Peterhead, we'll have sweethearts anew
For it's cheer up me lads, let your hearts never fail
For the bonny ship, the Diamond, goes a-fishing for the whale
For it's cheer up me lads, let your hearts never fail
For the bonny ship, the Diamond, goes a-fishing for the whale
It will be bright both day and night when Greenland lads come hame
Our ship full up with oil, my lads, and money to our name
We'll make the cradles for to rock and the blankets for to tear
And every lass in Peterhead sing: "Hushabye, my dear"
For it's cheer up me lads, let your hearts never fail
For the bonny ship, the Diamond, goes a-fishing for the whale
For it's cheer up me lads, let your hearts never fail
For the bonny ship, the Diamond, goes a-fishing for the whale
For it's cheer up me lads, let your hearts never fail
For the bonny ship, the Diamond, goes a-fishing for the whale
For it's cheer up me lads, let your hearts never fail
For the bonny ship, the Diamond, goes a-fishing for the whale
The song "Bonny Ship the Diamond" by The Longest Johns is a sea shanty that tells the story of a ship called The Diamond and its crew, who are going on a whaling expedition to the Davis Strait. The quay is decorated with beautiful women and the captain orders his crew to set sail across the ocean where the night skies are always bright. The crew sings words of encouragement to each other as they embark on their journey, telling each other to keep their hearts strong and cheerful. The ship and its crew are greeted with salted tears and heartache along the way, but they reassure their loved ones that they will be back, and when they do they will have money and gifts for them.
The lyrics of the song are poetically written, and the narrative is straightforward, telling the story of a whaling ship and its crew. The Longest Johns have sung and recorded songs in various styles including folk, shanty, and a cappella. Their rendition of "Bonny Ship the Diamond" is an excellent example of their passion for traditional music.
Line by Line Meaning
The Diamond is a ship, me lads, for the Davis Strait we're bound
We are embarking on a journey to the Davis Strait on a ship called The Diamond
The quay it is all garnished with bonnie lasses 'round
Beautiful ladies surround the dock as we set sail
Captain Thompson gives the orders to sail the ocean wide
Captain Thompson commands us to traverse the vast ocean
Where the sun it never sets, me lads, nor darkness dims the sky
We will be sailing to a region where the sun never sets and darkness never envelops the sky
For it's cheer up me lads, let your hearts never fail
Let us stay positive and not lose heart
For the bonny ship, the Diamond, goes a-fishing for the whale
We are on The Diamond, which is a fishing vessel looking to catch whales
Along the quay of Peterhead, the lasses stand around
At the dock in Peterhead, women stand around
Wi' their shawls all pulled around
They are wrapped in shawls
Their necks and the salt tears runnin' down
Their tears are mixing with the salt water on their necks
Well don't you weep, my bonny lass, though you'll be left behind
Do not cry, my beautiful lady, even though you will not be coming with us
For the rose will bloom on Greenland's ice before we change our mind
We are committed to this journey, we will not turn back
Here's a health to the Resolution (Hey), likewise the Eliza Swan
Let us raise our glasses to the Resolution and the Eliza Swan
Three cheers to the Battler of Montrose and the Diamond, ship of fame
Let us give three cheers to the Battler of Montrose and our famous ship, The Diamond
We wear the trousers of the white and the jackets of the blue
We are wearing white trousers and blue jackets
When we get back to Peterhead, we'll have sweethearts anew
When we return to Peterhead, we will have new love interests
It will be bright both day and night when Greenland lads come hame
Greenland boys will return home to a bright day and night
Our ship full up with oil, my lads, and money to our name
Our ship will be filled with oil and we will have made money
We'll make the cradles for to rock and the blankets for to tear
We will create the cradles that will rock and the blankets that will wrap our babies
And every lass in Peterhead sing: "Hushabye, my dear"
Every girl in Peterhead will sing lullabies to our children
For it's cheer up me lads, let your hearts never fail
Let us stay positive and not lose heart
For the bonny ship, the Diamond, goes a-fishing for the whale
We are on The Diamond, which is a fishing vessel looking to catch whales
For it's cheer up me lads, let your hearts never fail
Let us stay positive and not lose heart
For the bonny ship, the Diamond, goes a-fishing for the whale
We are on The Diamond, which is a fishing vessel looking to catch whales
For it's cheer up me lads, let your hearts never fail
Let us stay positive and not lose heart
For the bonny ship, the Diamond, goes a-fishing for the whale
We are on The Diamond, which is a fishing vessel looking to catch whales
Writer(s): Andrew Yates, David Robinson, Jonathan Darley, Robert Sattin, Traditional Song
Contributed by Muhammad P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Pertnado
[Verse 1]
The Diamond is a ship, me' lads for the Davis Strait we're bound
The quay it is all garnished, with bonnie lasses 'round
Captain Thompson gives the orders, to sail the ocean wide
Where the sun it never sets me lads nor darkness dims the sky
[Chorus]
For it's cheer up me lads let your hearts never fail
For the bonnie ship the Diamond goes a-fishing for the whale
For it's cheer up me lads let your hearts never fail
For the bonnie ship the Diamond goes a-fishing for the whale
[Verse 2]
Along the quay of Peterhead the lasses stand around
With shawls all pulled around them and the saut tears runnin' down
Well don't you weep my bonnie lass though you'll be left behind
For the rose will bloom on Greenland's ice before we change our mind
[Chorus]
For it's cheer up me lads let your hearts never fail
For the bonnie ship the Diamond goes a-fishing for the whale
For it's cheer up me lads let your hearts never fail
For the bonnie ship the Diamond goes a-fishing for the whale
[Verse 3]
Here's a health to the Resolution (hey) likewise the Eliza Swan
Three cheers for the Battler of Montrose and the Diamond, ship of fame
We wear the trousers o' the white and jackets of the blue
When we get back to Peterhead we'll have sweethearts enou'
[Chorus]
For it's cheer up me lads let your hearts never fail
For the bonnie ship the Diamond goes a-fishing for the whale
For it's cheer up me lads let your hearts never fail
For the bonnie ship the Diamond goes a-fishing for the whale
[Verse 4]
It will be bright both day and night when Greenland lads come hame
Our ship full up with oil, me lads and money to our name
We'll make the cradles for to rock and the blankets for to tear
And every lass in Peterhead sing "Hushabye, my dear"
[Chorus]
For it's cheer up me lads let your hearts never fail
For the bonnie ship the Diamond goes a-fishing for the whale
For it's cheer up me lads let your hearts never fail
For the bonnie ship the Diamond goes a-fishing for the whale
[Chorus]
For it's cheer up me lads let your hearts never fail
For the bonnie ship the Diamond goes a-fishing for the whale
For it's cheer up me lads let your hearts never fail
For the bonnie ship the Diamond goes a-fishing for the whale
Sunranaka
Actual lyrics without nonsense.
The Diamond is a ship, me lads, for the Davis Strait we're bound
The quay it is all garnished with bonnie lasses 'round
Captain Thompson gives the orders to sail the ocean wide
Where the sun it never sets, me lads, nor darkness dims the sky
For it's cheer up me lads, let your hearts never fail
For the bonny ship, the Diamond, goes a-fishing for the whale
For it's cheer up me lads, let your hearts never fail
For the bonny ship, the Diamond, goes a-fishing for the whale
Along the quay of Peterhead, the lasses stand around
Wi' their shawls all pulled around
Their necks and the salt tears runnin' down
Well don't you weep, my bonny lass, though you'll be left behind
For the rose will bloom on Greenland's ice before we change our mind
For it's cheer up me lads, let your hearts never fail
For the bonny ship, the Diamond, goes a-fishing for the whale
For it's cheer up me lads, let your hearts never fail
For the bonny ship, the Diamond, goes a-fishing for the whale
Here's a health to the Resolution (Hey), likewise the Eliza Swan
Three cheers to the Battler of Montrose and the Diamond, ship of fame
We wear the trousers of the white and the jackets of the blue
When we get back to Peterhead, we'll have sweethearts anew
For it's cheer up me lads, let your hearts never fail
For the bonny ship, the Diamond, goes a-fishing for the whale
For it's cheer up me lads, let your hearts never fail
For the bonny ship, the Diamond, goes a-fishing for the whale
It will be bright both day and night when Greenland lads come hame
Our ship full up with oil, my lads, and money to our name
We'll make the cradles for to rock and the blankets for to tear
And every lass in Peterhead sing: "Hushabye, my dear"
For it's cheer up me lads, let your hearts never fail
For the bonny ship, the Diamond, goes a-fishing for the whale
For it's cheer up me lads, let your hearts never fail
For the bonny ship, the Diamond, goes a-fishing for the whale
For it's cheer up me lads, let your hearts never fail
For the bonny ship, the Diamond, goes a-fishing for the whale
For it's cheer up me lads, let your hearts never fail
For the bonny ship, the Diamond, goes a-fishing for the whale
Dimitri P
The "name" at about 2:45 is sung so satisfyingly, everytime I hear it I just get really happy
Elethriel Land
came to comment this
Luis Rivera
I want to know what chord that it
Its real smexy
LiaRose
@Luis Rivera It's a picardy third. Simplest explanation is instead of resolving to a minor chord like is in the key signature, it's a major chord instead, but the same root note.
Luis Rivera
@LiaRose ah that explains it, thanks
Chris
Well now I can't unhear that 🤣
Zanneel
The beat, cadence, and arrangement of this hits a chord in me that I didn't know I needed until I heard it. I love the almost jazz-like opening with the guitar, slowly easing in the acordian and bells. Though I'd be remise if I didn't mention that flute at the end, I can't NOT smile when I hear that part.
etofok
sounds very Bastion Ost like
Bone
don't forget the perfect music cut at 2:37.
darth revan
Me and my girlfriend and my 104 year old grandfather were singing this together