Sea shanties

Edward Kenway chasing a sea shanty page

Sea shanties are working songs commonly sung aboard ships by sailors. They were especially common among navy men and pirates. The shanty consisted of two parts, the chant and the chorus. The chant would often be initiated by a single crewman who would sing the opening lines and establish the beat; the chorus would then come and the rest of the crew would join in. 

When Edward Kenway sailed the Caribbean and the West Indies, he could request his crew to sing various shanties.

Known shanties

Billy RileyBully in the AlleyCaptain KiddCheerly ManDerby RamDrunken Sailor

Old Billy Riley was a dancing master.

Old Billy Riley, oh, Old Billy Riley!

Old Billy Riley's master of a drogher.
Old Billy Riley, oh, Old Billy Riley!

Master of a drogher bound for Antigua.
Old Billy Riley, oh, Old Billy Riley!

Old Billy Riley has a nice young daughter.
Old Billy Riley, oh, Old Billy Riley!

Oh Missy Riley, little Missy Riley.
Old Billy Riley, oh, Old Billy Riley!

Had a pretty daughter, but we can't get at her.
Old Billy Riley, oh, Old Billy Riley!

Screw her up and away we go, boys.
Old Billy Riley, oh, Old Billy Riley!

One more pull and then belay, boys.

Old Billy Riley, oh, Old Billy Riley!

(Chorus)
Help me, Bob, I'm bully in the alley,
Way, hey, bully in the alley!
Help me, Bob, I'm bully in the alley,
Bully down in shinbone al! Sally is the girl that I love dearly,
Way, hey, bully in the alley.
Sally is the girl that I spliced dearly,
Bully down in shinbone al. (Chorus) For seven long years I courted little Sally,
Way, hey, bully in the alley.
But all she did was dilly and dally.
Bully down in shinbone al. (Chorus) I ever get back, I'll marry little Sally,
Way, hey, bully in the alley.
Have six kids and live in Shin-bone Alley.
Bully down in shinbone al. (Chorus)

O, my name was Captain Kidd,
as I sailed, as I sailed,
O, my name was Captain Kidd,
as I sailed.
My name was Captain Kidd
And God's laws I did forbid,
And so wickedly I did
as I sailed, as I sailed.
So wickedly I did
as I sailed. I murdered William Moore,
as I sailed, as I sailed.
O, I murdered William Moore
as I sailed.
I laid him in his gore,
Not many leagues from the shore,
O, I murdered William Moore,
as I sailed, as I sailed.
I murdered William Moore
as I sailed. I spied three ships from Spain
as I sailed, as I sailed,
O, I spied three ships from Spain
as I sailed.
I spied three ships from Spain,
and I fired on them a-main,
And most of them I slain,
as I sailed, as I sailed.
And most of them I slain
as I sailed. Come all you young and old,
see me die, see me die.
Come all you young and old,
see me die.
You are welcome to my goal,
And by it I lost my soul
Come all you young and old,
I must die, I must die.
Come all you young and old,
I must die.

Oh, Nancy Dawson, Hi-oh!
Cheerly, man!
She rubbed the Bo'sun, Hi-oh!
Cheerly, man!
That was a caution, Hi-oh! (Chorus)
Cheerly, man,
O! Haulee, Hi-oh,
Cheerly, man. Oh, Sally Racket, Hi-oh!
Cheerly, man!
Pawned my best jacket, Hi-oh!
Cheerly, man!
And sold pawn the ticket, Hi-oh! (Chorus) Oh, Kitty Carson, Hi-oh!
Cheerly, man!
Jitted the parson, Hi-oh! Cheerly, man!
Married a mason, Hi-oh! (Chorus) Oh, Betsy Baker, Hi-oh!
Cheerly, man!
Lived in Long Acre, Hi-oh!
Cheerly, man!
Married a Quaker, Hi-oh! (Chorus) Oh, Jenny Walker, Hi-oh!
Cheerly, man!
Married a hawker, Hi-oh!
Cheerly, man!
That was a corker, Hi-oh! (Chorus) Oh, Polly Riddle, Hi-oh!
Cheerly, man!
Broke her new fiddle, Hi-oh!
Cheerly, man!
Right through the middle, Hi-oh! (Chorus)

As I was going to Derby, 'twas on a market day,
I met the finest ram, sirs, that ever was fed upon hay. (Chorus)
That's a lie, that's a lie
That's a lie, a lie, a lie! This ram and I got drunk, sir, as drunk as drunk could
be,
And when we sobered up, sir, we were far away out
on the sea. (Chorus) This wonderful old ram, sir, was playful as a kid;
He swallowed the captain's spyglass along with the
bo'sun's fid. (Chorus) One morning on the poop, sir, afore eight bells was
struck.
He climbed up to the sky's I yard an' sat down on the truck. (Chorus) This wonderful ol' ram, sir, he tried a silly trick,
He tried to jump a five-barred fence and landed in a
rick. (Chorus) This wonderful ol' ram, sir, it grew two horns of brass,
One grew out o' his shoulder blade, t'other turned into
a mast. (Chorus) An' when this ram was killed, sir, the butcher was
covered in blood.
Five and twenty butcher boys was carried away the
flood. (Chorus) An' when this ram was dead, sir, they buried it in St.
Joan's,
It took ten men an' an elephant to carry one of its
bones. (Chorus)

(Chorus)
Weigh-hay and up she rises
Weigh-hay and up she rises
Weigh-hay and up she rises
Early in the morning! What will we do with a drunken sailor,
What will we do with a drunken sailor,
What will we do with a drunken sailor,
Early in the morning? (Chorus) Put 'em in the scuppers with a hose pipe on him,
Put 'em in the scuppers with a hose pipe on him,
Put 'em in the scuppers with a hose pipe on him,
Early in the morning! (Chorus) Put him in the brig until he's sober,
Put him in the brig until he's sober,
Put him in the brig until he's sober,
Early in the morning! (Chorus)

Fish in the SeaGood Morning Ladies AllGoodbye Johnny BellHandy Me Boys

Come all you young sailor men, listen to me,

I'll sing you a song of the fish in the sea;

(Chorus)
And it's...
Windy weather, boys, stormy weather, boys,
When the wind blows, we're all together, boys;
Blow ye winds westerly, blow ye winds, blow,
Jolly sou'wester, boys, steady she goes.

Up jumps the eel with his slippery tail,
Climbs up aloft and reefs the topsail.

(Chorus)

Then up jumps the shark with his nine rows of teeth,
Saying, "You eat the dough boys, and I'll eat the beef!"

(Chorus)

Up jumps the whale... the largest of all,
"If you want any wind, well, I'll blow ye a squall!"

(Chorus)

We are outward bound for Mobile town
With a heave-o, haul!
An' we'll heave the ol' wheel round an' round
Good mornin' ladies all! An' when we get to Mobile town
With a heave-o, haul!
Oh, 'tis there we'll drink an' sorrow drown
Good mornin' ladies all! Them gals down south are free an' gay
With a heave-o, haul!
Wid them we'll spend our hard-earned pay
Good mornin' ladies all! We'll swing around, we'll have good fun
With a heave-o, haul!
An' soon we'll be back on the homeward run
Good mornin' ladies all! An' when we get to Bristol town
With a heave-o, haul!
For the very last time we'll waltz around
Good mornin' ladies all! With Poll and Meg an' Sally too
With a heave-o, haul!
We'll drink an' dance wid a hullabaloo
Good mornin' ladies all! So a long goodbye to all you dears
With a heave-o, haul!
Don't cry for us, don't waste yer tears
Good mornin' ladies all!

Why can't ye be so handy-o!
Handy, me boys, so handy! Oh, aloft this yard must go.
Handy, me boys, so handy! Ooh! Up aloft from down below.
Handy, me boys, so handy! Growl ye may, but go ye must.
Handy, me boys, so handy! Growl too much an yer head they'll bust.
Handy, me boys, so handy! Oh, a bully ship an' a bully crew.
Handy, me boys, so handy! Oh, we're the gang for the kick 'er through.
Handy, me boys, so handy! Yer advance has gone, yer at sea again.
Handy, me boys, so handy! Hey, bound round the horn through the hail an' rain.
Handy, me boys, so handy! Sing an' haul, an' haul an' sing.
Handy, me boys, so handy! Up aloft this yard we'll swing.
Handy, me boys, so handy! Up aloft that yard must go.
Handy, me boys, so handy! For we are outward bound, ye know.
Handy, me boys, so handy! A handy ship an' a handy crew.
Handy, me boys, so handy! A handy Mate an Old Man too.
Handy, me boys, so handy!

Hauley Hauley HoHi-Ho Come Roll Me OverHomeward BoundJohnny Boker

England, ould Ireland

England, ould Ireland
England, ould Ireland
Hauley Hauley Ho!

Paddy M'Ginty
Paddy, Jock and Jackie too,
Oh Paddy M'Ginty,
Hauley Hauley Ho!

Shamrock an' Rose, boys,
Shamrock, Rose, and prickly Thistle too,
Shamrock an' Rose, boys,
Hauley Hauley Ho!

England, ould Ireland
England, ould Ireland
England, ould Ireland

Hauley Hauley Ho!

Why don't you blow
High-O! Come roll me over
Why don't you blow
High-O! Come roll me over One man to strike the bell
High-O! Come roll me over
One man to strike the bell
High-O! Come roll me over Two men to man the wheel
High-O! Come roll me over
Two men to man the wheel
High-O! Come roll me over Three men, to gallant braces
High-O! Come roll me over
Three men, to gallant braces
High-O! Come roll me over Four men to furl t'garns'ls
High-O! Come roll me over
Four men to furl t'garns'ls
High-O! Come roll me over Five men to bunt-a-bo
High-O! Come roll me over
Five men to bunt-a-bo
High-O! Come roll me over

Oh, don't yiz hear the old man say?
Goodbye, fare-ye-well! Goodbye, fare-ye-well!
Oh, don't yiz hear the old man say?
Hoor-raw me boys! We're homeward bound! We're Homeward bound to Liverpool Town,
Goodbye, fare-ye-well! Goodbye, fare-ye-well!
Where all them judies, they will come down
Hoor-raw me boys! We're homeward bound! An' when we gits to the Wallasey Gates
Goodbye, fare-ye-well! Goodbye, fare-ye-well!
Sally an' Olly for their flash men do wait
Hoor-raw me boys! We're homeward bound! An' one to the other ye'll hear them say,
Goodbye, fare-ye-well! Goodbye, fare-ye-well!
Here comes Johnny with his fourteen mont's pay!
Hoor-raw me boys! We're homeward bound! We meet these fly gals an' we'll ring the ol' bell,
Goodbye, fare-ye-well! Goodbye, fare-ye-well!
With them judies, we'll raise merry hell
Hoor-raw me boys! We're homeward bound! We're homeward bound to the gals o' the town.
Goodbye, fare-ye-well! Goodbye, fare-ye-well!
And stamp up me bullies an' heave it around.
Hoor-raw me boys! We're homeward bound! An' when we gits home, boys, oh, won't we fly round.
Goodbye, fare-ye-well! Goodbye, fare-ye-well!
We'll heave up the anchor to this bully sound.
Hoor-raw me boys! We're homeward bound! We're all homeward bound for the old backyard.
Goodbye, fare-ye-well! Goodbye, fare-ye-well!
Then heave, me bullies, we're all bound homeward.
Hoor-raw me boys! We're homeward bound! Heave with a will, boys, oh, heave long an' strong.
Goodbye, fare-ye-well! Goodbye, fare-ye-well!
Sing a good chorus for 'tis a good song.
Hoor-raw me boys! We're homeward bound! We're homeward bound, we'll have yiz to know.
Goodbye, fare-ye-well! Goodbye, fare-ye-well!
An' over the water to England must go!
Hoor-raw me boys! We're homeward bound!

Oh! Do, my Johnny Boker,
Come rock and roll me over.
Do! My Johnny Boker, do! Oh! Do, my Johnny Boker,
The skipper is a rover.
Do! My Johnny Boker, do! Oh! Do, my Johnny Boker,
The mate he's never sober.
Do! My Johnny Boker, do! Oh! Do, my Johnny Boker,
The Bo'sun is a tailor.
Do! My Johnny Boker, do! Oh! Do, my Johnny Boker,
We'll all go on a jamboree.
Do! My Johnny Boker, do! Oh! Do, my Johnny Boker,
The Packet is a Rollin'.
Do! My Johnny Boker, do! Oh! Do, my Johnny Boker,
We'll pull and haul together.
Do! My Johnny Boker, do! Oh! Do, my Johnny Boker,
We'll haul for better weather.
Do! My Johnny Boker, do! Oh! Do, my Johnny Boker,
And soon we'll be in London Town.
Do! My Johnny Boker, do! Oh! Do, my Johnny Boker,
Come rock and roll me over.
Do! My Johnny Boker, do!

Leave Her, JohnnyLowlands AwayMaid of AmsterdamPaddy Doyle's Boots

I thought I heard the Old Man say:

"Leave her, Johnny, leave her."
Tomorrow you will get your pay,
and it's time for us to leave her.

(Chorus) Leave her, Johnny, leave her!
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her!
For the voyage is long and the winds don't blow
And it's time for us to leave her.

Oh, the wind was foul and the sea ran high.
"Leave her, Johnny, leave her!"
She shipped it green and none went by.
And it's time for us to leave her.

(Chorus)

I hate to sail on this rotten tub.
"Leave her, Johnny, leave her!"
No grog allowed and rotten grub.
And it's time for us to leave her.

(Chorus)

We swear by rote for want of more.
"Leave her, Johnny, leave her!"
But now we're through so we'll go on shore.
And it's time for us to leave her.

(Chorus)

I dreamed a dream the other night
Lowlands, lowlands away me John
My love she came, dressed all in white
Lowlands away I dreamed my love came in my sleep
Lowlands, lowlands away me John
Her cheeks were wet, her eyes did weep
Lowlands away She came to me at my bedside
Lowlands, lowlands away me John
All dressed in white, like some fair bride
Lowlands away And bravely in her bosom fair
Lowlands, lowlands away me John
Her red, red rose, my love did wear
Lowlands away She made no sound, no word she said
Lowlands, lowlands away me John
And then I knew my love was dead
Lowlands away Then I awoke to hear the cry
Lowlands, lowlands away me John
Oh watch on deck
Oh watch, ahoy
Lowlands away

Yes, aye, and we'll haul, aye,
To pay Paddy Doyle for his boots;
We'll tauten the bunt, and we'll furl, aye,
And pay Paddy Doyle for his boots.
Yeo, aye, and we'll sing, aye,
To pay Paddy Doyle for his boots;
We'll bunt up the sail with a fling, aye,
And pay Paddy Doyle for his boots!
Yeo, aye and we'll haul, aye,
To pay Paddy Doyle for his boots;
We'll skin the old rabbit and haul, aye,
To pay Paddy Doyle for his boots!

Padstow's FarewellRandy Dandy-ORoll and GoRoll, Boys, Roll!Roller Bowler

It's time to go now,

Haul away your anchor,
Haul away your anchor,
It's our sailing time.

Get some sail upon her,
Haul away your halyards,
Haul away your halyards.
It's our sailing time.

Get her on her course now,
Haul away your foresheets,
Haul away your foresheets,
It's our sailing time.

Waves are surging under,
Haul away down Channel,
Haul away down Channel,
On the evening tide.

When your sailing's over,
Haul away for Heaven,
Haul away for Heaven,
God be by your side.

It is time to go now,
Haul away your anchor,
Haul away your anchor,

It's our sailing time.

Now we are ready to sail for the Horn,
Weigh hey, roll and go!
Our boots and our clothes, boys, are all in the pawn,
To be rollicking randy dandy-O! (Chorus)
Heave a pawl, O heave away!
Weigh hey, roll and go!
The anchor's on board and the cable's all stored,
To be rollicking randy dandy-O!
Soon we'll be warping her out through the locks,
Weigh hey, roll and go!
Where the pretty young girls all come down in their frocks,
To be rollicking randy dandy-O! (Chorus) Come breast the bars, bullies, heave her away,
Weigh hey, roll and go!
Soon we'll be rolling her down through the Bay,
To be rollicking randy dandy-O! (Chorus)

There was a ship, she sailed to Spain
O ho, roll and go!
There was a ship came home again.
Tommy's on the topsail yard! And what do you think was in her hold?
O ho, roll and go!
There was diamonds, there was gold.
Tommy's on the topsail yard! And what was in her lazarette?
O ho, roll and go!
Good split peas and bad bull meat.
Tommy's on the topsail yard! O, many a sailorman gets drowned,
O ho, roll and go!
Many a sailorman gets drowned.
Tommy's on the topsail yard!

Oh! Sally Brown, she's the gal for me boys
Roll, boys! Roll boys roll!
Oh! Sally Brown she's the gal for me, boys
Way high, Miss Sally Brown! We're bound away, 'way down south, boys,
Roll, boys! Roll boys roll!
We're bound away, 'way down south, boys,
Way high, Miss Sally Brown! It's down to Trinidad to see Sally Brown boys,
Roll, boys! Roll boys roll!
Down to Trinidad to see Sally Brown boys,
Way high, Miss Sally Brown! She's lovely on the foreyard, an' she's lovely down below boys,
Roll, boys! Roll boys roll!
She's lovely 'cause she loves me, that's all I want to know boys,
Way high, Miss Sally Brown! Ol' Captain Baker, how do you store yer cargo
Roll Boys! Roll boys roll!
Some I stow for'ard, boys, an' some I stow a'ter
Way high, Miss Sally Brown Forty fathoms or more below boys,
Roll, boys! Roll boys roll!
There's forty fathoms or more below boys,
Way high, Miss Sally Brown! Oh, way high ya, an' up she rises,
Roll Boys! Roll boys roll!
Way high ya, and the blocks is different sizes,
Way high, Miss Sally Brown! Oh, one more pull, don't ya hear the mate a-bawlin?
Roll, boys! Roll boys roll!
Oh, one more pull, that's the end of all the hawlin'
Way high, Miss Sally Brown! Sally Brown she's the gal for me boys,
Roll, boys! Roll boys roll!
Sally Brown she's the gal for me, boys,
Way high, Miss Sally Brown!

As I rolled out one mornin'
Away, you roller bowler!
As I rolled out one mornin'
I met a lady fair (Chorus)
Timme, hey-rig-a-jig an' a ha-ha
Good mornin', ladies all
Away, you roller bowler!
Timme, hey-rig-a-jig an' a ha-ha
Good mornin', ladies all The first time that I saw her
Away, you roller bowler!
The first time that I saw her,
that saucy gal of mine: (Chorus) But when she found that I was skint
Away, you roller bowler!
But when she found that I was skint
She left me standing there (Chorus) I squared me yards an' sailed away
Away, you roller bowler!
I squared me yards an' sailed away
An' to the ship I went (Chorus) She winked & flipped a flipper
Away, you roller bowler!
She winked & flipped a flipper
She thought I was a mate (Chorus)

Running Down to CubaSo Early in the MorningSpanish LadiesStormalong John

Running down to Cuba with a load of sugar,

Weigh, me boys, to Cuba!
Make her run you, lime juice squeezes,
Running down to Cuba.

(Chorus)
Weigh, me boys, to Cuba!
Running down to Cuba

O, I got a sister, she's nine feet tall,
Weigh, me boys, to Cuba!
Sleeps in the kitchen with her feet in the hall,
Running down to Cuba.

(Chorus)

The captain he will trim the sails,
Weigh, me boys, to Cuba!
Winging the water over the rails,
Running down to Cuba.

(Chorus)

Give me a gal can dance Fandango,
Weigh, me boys, to Cuba!
Round as a melon and sweet as a mango,
Running down to Cuba.

(Chorus)

Load this sugar and home-ward go,
Weigh, me boys, to Cuba!
Mister mate, he told me so,
Running down to Cuba.

(Chorus)

The mate was drunk and he went below to take a swig at his bottle o
(Chorus)
So early in the morning the sailor likes his bottle o
The bottle o, the bottle o, the sailor loves his bottle o A bottle of rum, a bottle of gin, a bottle of Irish whiskey o
(Chorus) The baccy o, tabaccy o, the sailor loves his baccy o
(Chorus) A packet of shag, a packet of cut, a plug of hard terbaccy o
(Chorus) The lassies o, the maidens o, the sailor loves the judies o
(Chorus) A lass from the 'pool, a girl from the Tyne, a chowlah so fine and dandy o
(Chorus) A bully rough house, a bully rough house, the sailor like his rough house o
(Chorus) Tread on me coat, and all hands in, a bully good rough and tumble o
(Chorus) A sing song o, a sing song o, the sailor likes a sing song o
(Chorus) A drinking song, a song of love, a ditty of seas and shipmates o
(Chorus)

Farewell and adieu to you, Spanish ladies,
Farewell and adieu to you, ladies of Spain,
For we've received orders for to sail for old England,
And we may never see you fair ladies again. (Chorus)
We will rant and we'll roar like true British sailors,
We'll rant and we'll roar all on the salt seas.
Until we strike soundings in the channel of old England,
From Ushant to Scilly is thirty-five leagues. We hove our ship to, with the wind at sou'west, boys
We hove our ship to, deep soundings to take.
'Twas forty-five fathoms with a white sandy bottom,
So we squared our main yard and up channel did steer. (Chorus) Now let every man drink off his full bumper,
And let every man drink off his full glass,
We'll drink and be jolly and drown melancholy,
And here's to the health of each true-hearted lass! (Chorus)

The Coasts of High BarbaryThe Dead HorseThe Rio GrandeThe Sailboat Malarkey

The Wild GooseThe Worst Old ShipWhere am I to Go M'JohnniesWhiskey Johnny

Did you ever see a wild goose

Sailing o'er the ocean?

Ranzo, Ranzo, weigh heigh!

They're just like them pretty girls, When they gets the notion.

Ranzo, Ranzo, weigh heigh!

The other morning I was walking by the river.

Ranzo, Ranzo, weigh heigh!

When I saw a young girl walking With her topsails all a-quiver.

Ranzo, Ranzo, weigh heigh!

I said, "Pretty fair maid And how are you this morning?"

Ranzo, Ranzo, weigh heigh!

She said none the better for the seeing of you

Ranzo, Ranzo, weigh heigh!

The worst old ship that ever did sail,
Sailed out of Harwich on a windy day. (Chorus)
And we're waiting for the day,
Waiting for the day,
Waiting for the day
That we get our pay. She was built in Roman time,
Held together with bits of twine
(Chorus) Nothing in the galley—nothing in the hold,
But the skipper's turned in with a bag of gold. (Chorus) Off Orford Ness she sprang a leak,
Hear her poor old timbers creak. (Chorus)
We pumped our way round scalby Ness,
When the wind backed round to the west-nor'-west. (Chorus)
Into the Humber and up the town, Pump you blighters—pump or drown. (Chorus) x2

'Way Me Susiana

Reference

• Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag