It was a windless night
When you left the ship
You never were
A steady bold one
I gave my hand
Ah but you did slip

I’m a living man
And you're a cold one
Haul away
Haul away for home

My love’s as fair
As a girl can be
My wedding ring's
A heavy gold one
Now you lie alone
In the deep dark sea
I’m a living man
And you're a cold one
So haul away
Haul away for home

The morning brings
Lord a fresh young breeze
To fill our sails
And end the doldrums
Our lucky ship
Speeds across the sea
I’m a living man
And you're a cold one
So haul away
Haul away for home


Lyrics submitted by mike, edited by LidoTRK, SailFree, Llew22

Haul Away song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

10 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment

    To add some fuel to the fire: no one said that his 'love as fair as a girl can be' is the same person as the wife, which has so sadly slipped on a windless night ;) It seems the weight of his marriage (maybe to a 'cold' but wealthy wife whom he never loved), perhaps coupled with a superstition of a woman on-board (probably during a prolonged period of windless weather) incited him to help her leave the ship. Regret, if there ever was any, does not seem to occupy his mind; in fact, he seems relieved to sail back home instead of starving to death due to windless weather and rejoices in his freedom found anew. Those privateers maybe weren't pirates, but they ain't the nicest kind either ;)

    Avleeon April 11, 2013   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!