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.
The Milkmaid
The Longest Johns Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Heave away)
She belongs to the rolling sea
(Heave and haul away)
Though shes made me many a pound
(Heave away)
I have no choice but to cut her down
(Heave and haul away)
Cast her away brave boys
We′ll find another when we've been paid
But there′ll never be another craft like the crafty old milk maid
She was crammed with a liquid gold
(Heave away)
Never was a finer cargo stowed
(Heave and haul away)
Kegs and bottles all locked up tight
(Heave away)
And another one to get us through the night
(Heave and haul away)
Cast her away brave boys
We'll find another when we've been paid
But there′ll never be another craft like the crafty old milk maid
We filled our pockets and we never got caught
(Heave away)
And emptied them again at the nearest port
(Heave and haul away)
Find us a buyer and we′ll find a way through
(Heave away)
Leave it to the maid and a fearless crew
(Heave and haul away)
Cast her away brave boys
We'll find another when we′ve been paid
But there'll never be another craft like the crafty old milk maid
Through the glass of a customs scum
(Heave away)
We′ll never let the kings men steal our rum
(Heave and haul away)
Scuttle the hull, kiss the maid goodbye
(Heave away)
Never thought i'd see the bosun cry
(Heave and haul away)
Cast her away brave boys
We′ll find another when we've been paid
But there'll never be another craft like the crafty old milk maid
Now we′re hiding in the tavern among the kegs
(Heave away)
Drinking all day trying to wet our legs
(Heave and haul away)
Though our next ship might be strong and true
(Heave away)
We′ll always be the milkmaids crew!
(Heave and haul away)
Cast her away brave boys
We'll find another when we′ve been paid
But there'll never be another craft like the crafty old milk maid
(Hoy!)
The Milkmaid by The Longest Johns is a sea shanty about a group of sailors who have been smuggling alcohol aboard a ship called the Milkmaid. The singer of the song loves a woman who is their ship, and together, they have made a lot of money smuggling alcohol. However, there comes a time where they must cut ties with the Milkmaid and find another ship to continue their work. The song goes through the process of getting rid of the Milkmaid and searching for a new ship.
As the sailors say goodbye to the milkmaid, they acknowledge that there will never be another craft like her. The ship was crammed with "liquid gold," referring to the valuable cargo of alcohol they were smuggling. The singer, though sad to say goodbye to the Milkmaid, knows that there will be another ship and opportunities to make money. The song ends with the sailors drinking in a tavern, ready for their next adventure.
The lyrics of this sea shanty are simple and straightforward, but they tell a vivid story of smugglers at sea. The Milkmaid represents the danger and excitement of smuggling, as well as the attachment that sailors can develop toward their ship. The song also touches on themes of risk-taking and the camaraderie among sailors.
Line by Line Meaning
I love a woman and she loves me
The singer is in love with a woman who loves him back
She belongs to the rolling sea
The woman is a ship, and is meant to sail on the sea
Though she's made me many a pound
The woman ship has been profitable for the singer
I have no choice but to cut her down
Despite his love for the ship, the singer knows he must sell her
She was crammed with a liquid gold
The ship was carrying a valuable cargo of alcohol
Never was a finer cargo stowed
The singer believes that the cargo on this ship was of exceptional quality
Kegs and bottles all locked up tight
The cargo was securely packaged
And another one to get us through the night
The crew has enough alcohol to last the night
We filled our pockets and we never got caught
The crew successfully stole some of the cargo without getting caught
And emptied them again at the nearest port
They sold the stolen alcohol at the nearest port
Find us a buyer and we'll find a way through
The crew is resourceful and can find a way to sell the rest of the cargo
Leave it to the maid and a fearless crew
The ship and crew are capable of handling any challenges that come their way
We'll never let the kings men steal our rum
The crew is determined to protect their stolen cargo
Scuttle the hull, kiss the maid goodbye
The ship is intentionally sunk to prevent anyone else from getting the cargo
Never thought I'd see the bosun cry
Even the experienced crew is emotional about the loss of the ship
Now we're hiding in the tavern among the kegs
The crew is now drinking in a tavern, surrounded by barrels of alcohol
Drinking all day trying to wet our legs
They are drinking heavily and trying to forget their recent loss
We'll always be the milkmaids crew!
The crew will always remember their time with the ship, the 'milkmaid'
Writer(s): David Robinson, Andrew Robert Yates, Jonathan Michael Peter Darley, Robert James Alexander Sattin, Joshua Bowker
Contributed by Victoria J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.