Lyr Add: Haul on the Bowline (#3)

Subject: Lyr Add: HAUL ON THE BOWLINE
From: Barry Finn
Date: 06 Apr 99 - 05:49 PM

I went looking for more verses to this version & it wasn't in the DT. So here's what I got. This version was recorded in the Bahamas in the 1930's.

So long, my boys, you been to sea
You cannot tie a bowline

Ch: Haul on the bowline the bowline haul

So long, my boys, you been to sea
You cannot tie a bowline

Ch: Haul on the bowline, the bowline haul

Grand Ch: A bowline, a bowline, you cannot tie a bowline
Haul on the bowline the bowline haul

Well, breeze & storm & sun & rain
I never seen a girl like Lucy Jane

I pulled her dress above her knee
She says"young man now let me be"

I'll tell me Ma when I get home
Them Windward girls won't leave me 'lone

They spend me money quick on shore
Pack me bag, to sea once more
^^

Subject: RE: Add Lyr. 'Haul on the Bowline' (#3)
From: Matthew B.
Date: 06 Apr 99 - 06:03 PM

I've run into a version almost identical to this one, and I love it. I particularly love the lilting melodic variation on the standard refrain with the words:
You canna tie a bo-owlin

I'd love to trade recordings with you, Barry. Where do you live?

Subject: RE: Add Lyr. 'Haul on the Bowline' (#3)
From: Jon W.
Date: 07 Apr 99 - 01:06 PM

Barry, do you know the version on "Blow Boys Blow" (Ewan MacColl & A.L. Lloyd)? If you do, can you tell me if the words above are sung to the same tune (more or less).

Subject: RE: Add Lyr. 'Haul on the Bowline' (#3)
From: Matthew B.
Date: 07 Apr 99 - 05:25 PM

John -

Blow Boys, Blow describes about a dozen completely different songs, including Banks of the Sacramento and even Congo River... and has been used as an alternate title for all of them.

- Matt

Subject: RE: Add Lyr. 'Haul on the Bowline' (#3)
From: Jon W.
Date: 07 Apr 99 - 07:11 PM

Matt - in this case, it is the title of an album I refer to, which includes the song "Haul on the Bowline." I'm just trying to find out if Barry's words above go to the same tune as the song on the album. BTW the album also includes "Congo River" under the (song) title of "Blow Boys Blow".

Subject: RE: Add Lyr. 'Haul on the Bowline' (#3)
From: Barry Finn
Date: 09 Apr 99 - 03:41 PM

Hi Matthew & Jon, sorry for responding sooner, my computer crashed right after I posted this & a friend just fixed me all up again. I don't know how MacColl does this but it's not the same as the in the DT. The recording I got it off of is "Sea Shanties", Topic12TS234, with Lloyd singing the lead.

Matt I'm in Southern New Hampshire, the area's a hot bed for Mudcats. I got 2 to my west, 1 to my east, a few to the north & northwest & at least a litter to my south [but that's still hours in any direction].Barry

Subject: RE: Add Lyr. 'Haul on the Bowline' (#3)
From: Matthew B.
Date: 09 Apr 99 - 06:17 PM

So Barry, how often do you get to NYC? (or, we can make each other a tape and exchange them this June at the Mystic Sea Festival, if you'll be there)

Subject: RE: Add Lyr. 'Haul on the Bowline' (#3)
From: Barry Finn
Date: 09 Apr 99 - 11:00 PM

Matt I've been to NYC once (2 yrs ago to the Little Red Lighthouse Fest.) & was really knocked over by the sea music scene there, it's about a 5 hr drive for me & if I can remotely rationalize the drive I'd love to make it there more often, been dying to make one of the sea music sessions. On the other hand I haven't missed a Sea Music Fest at Mystic in years (except 1 yr when 2 broken legs kept me from walking there, it was to far to crawl). I'd b happy to swap some tapes with you, you'll find me late at night, anytime between midnight & 4 singing with the night owls & dressed up in one of my mudcat T shirts, along with the others mudcatters that make it there. Barry

Subject: RE: Add Lyr. 'Haul on the Bowline' (#3)
From: Barry Finn
Date: 15 Apr 99 - 06:55 PM

Jon W, just heard Lloyd's "Haul On The Bowline" from the 'Blow Boys Blow' CD & it's not the same tune. Barry

Subject: RE: Add Lyr. 'Haul on the Bowline' (#3)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Apr 99 - 07:27 PM

Say, Barry, are you familiar with the song in the database called HAUL AWAY FOR ROSIE? It's got that line, "cannot tie a bowline," that stands out in the version you posted. Could the tune be the same?
The University of Tennessee - Knoxville lists several songbooks that have songs with "Haul" or "Bowline" in the title. I'm off to check the four books I have that are on the list.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Add Lyr. 'Haul on the Bowline' (#3)
From: Matthew B.
Date: 15 Apr 99 - 08:06 PM

Joe -

It's not the same line... at least not melodically. Then again, each of the two songs has so many melodic variations, that you might find a match in there somewhere.

Barry -

Maybe we can do something by mail. E-mail me at [e-mail]

- Matt

Subject: RE: Add Lyr. 'Haul on the Bowline' (#3)
From: Barry Finn
Date: 15 Apr 99 - 09:59 PM

Hi Joe, it's not the same as "Haul Away For Rosie", similar lines but different tunes. This Haul on the Bowline has a grand chorus at the end (Ch: the bowline, the bowline you cannot tie a bowline, haul on the bowline, the bowline haul). Sorry Joe that I can't do tunes.

Matt, that also means I haven't the slightest clue as to how to send any form of music by e-mail, though I'll e-mail you just the same if only to say hi.

Maybe this might help, the first line (so long me boys you've been to sea) goes up, I think, a half step, with each word & the second line ( you cannot tie a bowline) goes down a half step. I can't explain the rest, I hope that makes some sense. Barry

Subject: RE: Add Lyr. 'Haul on the Bowline' (#3)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Apr 99 - 02:06 AM

When I got home tonight, there was a message on my voice mail. No talk on the message, just a strong voice singing:

So long ye've been to sea me boys,
You cannot tie a bowline
Ch: Haul on the bowline the bowline haul

I'll bet it was from Barry. It was well-sung, that's for sure. Now I have to see if I can figure out how to get it onto paper or a MIDI. Hey, Barry, can you call and sing it to Dick or Alison and get them to transcribe it? I really liked it. Thanks a lot, Barry (or whoever it was who called).
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr/Tune Add: HAUL ON THE BOWLINE
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Apr 99 - 01:11 PM

OK, I found a tune that is close to what Barry Sings. It's from Stan Hugill's Shanties from the Seven Seas, which has a subchapter on the "Haul Family." You'll have to play around with the lyrics to make them fit the tune, but I got it to scan pretty well.
-Joe Offer-

MIDI file: BOWLNB~1.MID

Timebase: 192

Name: HAUL THE BOWLINE
Text: By traditional (Stan Hugill, Shanties from 7 Seas
TimeSig: 4/4 24 8
Start
0000 1 60 110 0094 0 60 000 0002 1 60 110 0142 0 60 000 0002 1 62 110 0046 0 62 000 0002 1 64 110 0142 0 64 000 0002 1 65 110 0046 0 65 000 0002 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 69 110 0142 0 69 000 0002 1 67 110 0046 0 67 000 0002 1 65 110 0094 0 65 000 0002 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 69 110 0096 0 69 000 0000 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 69 110 0142 0 69 000 0002 1 69 110 0046 0 69 000 0002 1 71 110 0096 0 71 000 0000 1 69 110 0094 0 69 000 0002 1 67 110 0142 0 67 000 0002 1 67 110 0046 0 67 000 0002 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 72 110 0256 0 72 000 0032 1 60 110 0094 0 60 000 0002 1 60 110 0142 0 60 000 0002 1 62 110 0046 0 62 000 0002 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 65 110 0094 0 65 000 0002 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 69 110 0094 0 69 000 0002 1 69 110 0094 0 69 000 0002 1 65 110 0046 0 65 000 0002 1 65 110 0046 0 65 000 0002 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 69 110 0096 0 69 000 0000 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 72 110 0094 0 72 000 0002 1 69 110 0094 0 69 000 0002 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 67 110 0142 0 67 000 0002 1 67 110 0046 0 67 000 0002 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 72 110 0336 0 72 000 0048 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 72 110 0142 0 72 000 0002 1 69 110 0046 0 69 000 0002 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 74 110 0094 0 74 000 0002 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 69 110 0142 0 69 000 0002 1 69 110 0046 0 69 000 0002 1 65 110 0094 0 65 000 0002 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 69 110 0094 0 69 000 0002 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 72 110 0160 0 72 000 0032 1 71 110 0142 0 71 000 0002 1 69 110 0046 0 69 000 0002 1 71 110 0096 0 71 000 0000 1 69 110 0094 0 69 000 0002 1 67 110 0142 0 67 000 0002 1 67 110 0046 0 67 000 0002 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 72 110 0336 0 72 000
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:Haul the Bowline
M:4/4
Q:1/4=120
K:C
CC3/2D/2E3/2F/2G2c|-cA3/2G/2FGAGE|-Ec2A3/2A/2BAG|
-G/2G/2A2B2c3|CC3/2D/2EFG2c|-cAAF/2F/2GAGE|
-Ec2cAB2G|-G/2G/2A2B2c3|-cc2c3/2A/2B2d|BA3/2A/2FGAGE|
-Ec2B3/2A/2BAG|-G/2G/2A2B2c3|-c/2||

So_long ye've been to sea me boys
Ye_can-not tie a bow-line
Haul on the bow-line, the bow-line haul!
So_long ye've been to sea me boys
Ye _ can-not tie_a bow-line
Haul on the bow-line, the bow-line haul!

The bow-line, the bow-line
Ye can-not tie a bow-line
Haul on the bow-line, the bow-line haul!

Subject: RE: Add Lyr. 'Haul on the Bowline' (#3)
From: Barry Finn
Date: 17 Apr 99 - 03:56 PM

Hi Joe, I'm the guilty caller, figured you might be able to make sense of my singing. I'd be happy to sing it for anyone that can transcribe it. I'll be doing a workshop at NEFFA on Sun (April 25), in case there's anyone going there that can do the MIDI thing. I know Dan, Sandy & a few others will be there but I don't know if any of them could help to get the tune posted. I did look at the "B" tune that Hugill has in his book & it does seem to fit well but the words don't scan for me at all. Joe, maybe I should send you a tape (I'm usually slow at these things) if that'll work for you, if it does let me know & I'll throw a few other songs that might be to your liking. And yes Joe, if you visit Boston there's a great possiblity that you'd squeeze in 5 sings (probably more if you're up for the sprot of it) within a months time. Barry

Subject: RE: Add Lyr. 'Haul on the Bowline' (#3)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Apr 99 - 04:38 PM

Say, Barry, does your group Fin & Haddie happen to have a CD to sell?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Add Lyr. 'Haul on the Bowline' (#3)
From: Barry Finn
Date: 17 Apr 99 - 05:09 PM

Not at this time Joe but we do donate our bodies & brains to parnormal research. Barry