Windlass song

Heave at the windlass! -- Heave O, cheerly, men!
Heave all at once, with a will!

The tide quickly making,
Our cordage a-creaking,
The water has put on a frill,
Heave O!
Fare you well, sweethearts! -- Heave O, cheerly, men!

Fare you well, frolic and sport!
The good ship all ready,
Each dog-vane is steady,
The wind blowing dead out of port,
Heave O!
Once in blue water -- Heave O, cheerly, men!

Blow it from north or from south;
She'll stand to it tightly,
And curtsey politely,
And carry a bone in her mouth,
Heave O!
Short cruise or long cruise -- Heave O, cheerly, men!

Jolly Jack Tar thinks it one.
No latitude dreads he
Of White, Black, or Red Sea,
Great icebergs, or tropical sun,
Heave O!
One other turn, and Heave O, cheerly, men!

Heave, and good-bye to the shore!
Our money, how went it?
We shared it and spent it;
Next year we'll come back with some more,
Heave O!

by William Allingham (1824-1889) , "Windlass song", from Day and Night Songs, published 1854

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

by Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934) , "Windlass song", published 1915. [SATB chorus a cappella]
by Walter Cecil Macfarren (1826-1905) , "Windlass song", published 1872. [TTBB chorus a cappella]
by Alec Rowley (1892-1958) , "Windlass song", published 1923. [unison voices and piano]
by Felix Harold White (1884-1945) , "Heave at the windlass", published 1926. [partsong for men's chorus a cappella]

Date added to the website: 2009-01-19.

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