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.
Shipping Forecast
The Longest Johns Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 1700 hours today.
North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties, Cromarty. Northwesterly 5 to 7,
Occasionally gale 8, backing southwesterly,
And decreasing 3 for a time. Rain later. Moderate, becoming good.
Humber, Shannon. Northeasterly 6. Good,
Growing steadily, becoming 7. Happy birthday.
Tyne, Thames, Forth. Little bit, muchly.
32 long, size 8, becoming smart later.
Dogger, Fisher, Dover. I hardly knew her.
Viking. Arriving soon, leaving later with your wife.
Fair Isle, Faeroes, Pyramid, Sphinx.
Biscay, Fastnet, Dialup, Broadband.
Lundy, Mardi, Mercredi. Plymouth? No.
German Bight. Watch out for that.
Portland, FitzRoy. Moving forward, 22 yards. Touchdown.
Irish Sea, Irish stew, Baileys, Hebrides.
Rockall, Sole. One fish, two fish. Red fish, blue fish.
Trafalgar. Rectangular, becoming square.
And finally, Longest Johns.
Starting strong, 7 or 8, becoming not so poor, then good.
That was the Shipping Forecast for
1700 hours, Wednesday, 18th of August.
The Shipping Forecast is a poem by the English a cappella group The Longest Johns, which is unique in that its lyrics are taken directly from the coastal weather forecasts that are broadcast on BBC Radio 4 every day. The song begins, as the weather forecast does, with the announcement that the forecast is being issued by the Met Office and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency at 1700 hours. The first few lines of the forecast describe the conditions of various sea areas including North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties, and Cromarty. The wind speed of the areas is given as Northwesterly 5 to 7, which may rise up to gale 8 later, but it is expected to decrease for some time.
The song then moves on to describe the forecasts of other sea areas including Humber, Shannon, Tyne, Thames, Forth, Dogger, Fisher, Dover, Viking, Fair Isle, Faeroes, Pyramid, Sphinx, Biscay, Fastnet, Dialup, Broadband, Lundy, Mardi, Mercredi, German Bight, Portland, FitzRoy, Irish Sea, Irish stew, Baileys, Hebrides, Rockall, and Sole. Though the songwriters are using the same words as in the Shipping Forecast, they are having fun and adding a bit of humor by playing with the meanings of some of the words.
One interesting observation of the song is that it ends with "Longest Johns", which could mean that the group is warning sailors about their presence. However, the song is open to interpretation and could mean something completely different. Moreover, the way the song moves from one sea area to the next can be seen as the equivalent of the listener moving from one shore to another, taking in the changing scenery along the way. The song not only highlights the importance of the Shipping Forecast for sailors and fishermen but it is also an ode to the beauty of the coastal landscapes.
Line by Line Meaning
And now the Shipping Forecast, issued by the Met Office,
The Shipping Forecast is being announced now by the Meteorological Office.
On behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at 1700 hours today.
The announcement of the Shipping Forecast is being made on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency at 5 PM today.
North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties, Cromarty. Northwesterly 5 to 7, Occasionally gale 8, backing southwesterly, And decreasing 3 for a time. Rain later. Moderate, becoming good.
The weather forecast for the named sea areas includes strong northwesterly winds ranging from force 5 to force 7 and occasionally force 8, which will later turn into rain. The wind direction may change and decrease temporarily to force 3, followed by a moderate but improving weather condition.
Humber, Shannon. Northeasterly 6. Good, Growing steadily, becoming 7. Happy birthday.
The forecast for Humber and Shannon includes northeast winds of force 6, which will improve to force 7 while the sea condition remains good. A birthday greeting is given to someone.
Tyne, Thames, Forth. Little bit, muchly. 32 long, size 8, becoming smart later.
These sea areas will have slightly turbulent water conditions and then ahead, an improvement in wind and sea conditions. Additionally, a description of clothing like a long garment and the size, becoming elegant later.
Dogger, Fisher, Dover. I hardly knew her. Viking. Arriving soon, leaving later with your wife.
The sea areas Dogger, Fisher, and Dover are mentioned playfully in a pun, then followed by mentioning the arrival of Viking, who will later leave with someone's wife, perhaps as a light-hearted comment.
Fair Isle, Faeroes, Pyramid, Sphinx. Biscay, Fastnet, Dialup, Broadband. Lundy, Mardi, Mercredi. Plymouth? No. German Bight. Watch out for that.
Several sea areas are mentioned in this verse, some having names of significant landmarks, and others with technological advancements. The verse serves to add some humor and interest to a monotonous forecast delivery.
Portland, FitzRoy. Moving forward, 22 yards. Touchdown.
Portland and FitzRoy are mentioned with a reference to forward motion of 22 yards, like in American football's touchdown, suggesting good conditions or a successful reach of a destination.
Irish Sea, Irish stew, Baileys, Hebrides. Rockall, Sole. One fish, two fish. Red fish, blue fish.
This verse mixes several different Irish or Scottish references, from the Irish Sea to Baileys to the Hebrides, also humorously including a Dr. Seuss rhyme. The reference to a fish may indicate fishing, and the location may suggest near Rockall or Sole seafloor elevations.
Trafalgar. Rectangular, becoming square.
Trafalgar, a historic naval battle location, is mentioned, and then there is a reference to becoming square, which might indicate an improvement in weather or sea conditions.
And finally, Longest Johns. Starting strong, 7 or 8, becoming not so poor, then good.
Finally, The Longest Johns, perhaps the artist or a band, are mentioned, and the forecast for them includes strong winds at force 7 or 8 improving from being unfavorable to becoming good.
That was the Shipping Forecast for 1700 hours, Wednesday, 18th of August.
This is the conclusion to the Shipping Forecast announcement, stating the time and date of the forecast's release.
Contributed by Adrian K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.