One of the Great Working Shanties
‘Haul Away Joe’ is one of the best-known sea shanties ever sung aboard sailing ships. With its powerful chorus and endless supply of verses, it became a favourite among merchant sailors on both sides of the Atlantic.
Unlike many maritime songs that were sung for entertainment, ‘Haul Away Joe’ was a genuine working shanty. It helped crews coordinate short bursts of heavy effort when hauling ropes, tightening sails and carrying out other demanding tasks aboard ship.
How the Song Was Used
Maritime historians classify ‘Haul Away Joe’ as a short-drag or short-haul shanty. These shanties were designed for jobs requiring quick, powerful pulls rather than sustained effort. Sailors often sang it while sheeting home sails, sweating up halyards or hauling on braces.
The crew would join together on the final word of the chorus, using the rhythm to ensure everyone pulled at exactly the same moment. Efficient teamwork was essential aboard sailing ships, and shanties provided the perfect solution.
Where Did It Come From?
The exact origins of ‘Haul Away Joe’ remain uncertain. References to the song appear during the nineteenth century, and many collectors regarded it as one of the most widespread shanties in maritime tradition.
Some researchers believe it may have developed from earlier popular songs and minstrel tunes before being adapted by sailors. Over time, crews altered the words, added new verses and passed the song from ship to ship around the world.
An Endless Supply of Verses
One reason for the song's popularity was its flexibility. Shantymen could improvise dozens of verses on almost any subject. Some verses were comic, some romantic, and others poked fun at officers, ports or fellow sailors.
Because there was no definitive version, every crew could make the song their own. Stan Hugill and other collectors recorded numerous variations from traditional sailors during the twentieth century.
Merchant Ships and Deep-Water Sailors
‘Haul Away Joe’ was especially popular aboard merchant sailing ships. These vessels carried goods around the world and often spent months away from home. Life at sea was physically demanding, and crews depended on songs such as this to make hard work more bearable.
The song became familiar throughout the Atlantic trade routes, from British ports to North America and beyond. Its cheerful rhythm helped raise spirits even during long voyages and bad weather.
A Selsey Connection
Ships carrying this shanty would frequently pass through the English Channel on their way to distant oceans. Many deep-water sailors would have known Selsey Bill as a familiar landmark when entering or leaving home waters.
Today the song continues to be sung along our coast. When we perform it in Selsey, we are keeping alive a tradition that once echoed from the decks of merchant ships around the world.
Is It Really a Shanty?
Absolutely. ‘Haul Away Joe’ is one of the classic examples of a genuine work shanty. It was not simply a song about the sea; it was an important tool that helped sailors coordinate heavy labour aboard working ships.
“Away, haul away, we'll haul away together, Away, haul away, we'll haul away Joe!”
Why We Still Sing It
- It is one of the classic working shanties of the sailing era.
- Its rhythm captures the sound and energy of life aboard ship.
- Its endless verses allow singers to make it their own.
- Its chorus is perfect for audience participation.
More than a century after the last commercial sailing ships disappeared from the seas, ‘Haul Away Joe’ remains one of the most frequently performed sea shanties in the world. Its combination of hard work, humour and camaraderie perfectly captures the spirit of the sailors who first sang it.
Come and hear it for yourself. Have a look at our Performances page to see where we will be next, and don't forget to sing along.