South Australia (song)

Lyrics
"In South Australia I was born
"Heave away. Haul away!
"South Australia round Cape Horn
"And we're bound for South Australia

"Haul away you rolling king
"Heave away! Haul away!
"All the way you'll hear me sing
"And we're bound for South Australia

"As I walked out one morning fair
"Heave away! Haul away!
"It's there I met Miss Nancy Blair
"And we're bound for South Australia

"There ain't but one thing grieves my mind
"Heave away! Haul away!
"It's to leave Miss Nancy Blair behind
"And we're bound for South Australia

"I run her all night I run her all day
"Heave away! Haul away!
"Run her before we sailed away
"And we're bound for South Australia

"I shook her up I shook her down
"Heave away! Haul away!
"I shook her round and round and round
"And we're bound for South Australia

"And as you wollop round Cape Horn
"Heave away! Haul away!
"You'll wish that you had never been born
"And we're bound for South Australia

"I wish I was on Australia's strand
"Heave away! Haul away!
"With a bottle of whiskey in my hand
"And we're bound for South Australia

"In South Australia my native land
"Heave away! Haul away!
"Full of rocks, and fleas, and thieves, and sand
"And we're bound for South Australia

South Australia (Roud # 325) is a sea shanty used by the wool traders who worked the clipper ships between Australian ports and London. It is now a very famous folk song that is recorded by many artists and is present in many of today's song books.

This is well known as a farewell song, sung at the docks as the big ships were leaving. The men grew a sentimental attachment to the song and were even known to request a rousing chorus on their death beds, so they could die happy.

History

The song was collected from sailors in Tyneside, northern England, and included in Laura Smith's "The Music of the Waters" collection in 1888.

Recorded versions

The song has been recorded many times in both traditional and modern arrangements.

Traditional recordings

*The Seekers on their 1964 UK album, "The Seekers" (also known as "Roving With The Seekers")
*The Pilgrims on their album "Here to Stay".
*The Poxy Boggards on their album Anchor Management
*The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem on their album "The Boys Won't Leave The Girls Alone"
*The Corsairs (1995-2008) on their album "The Blue One"

Modern versions

*The Clumsy Lovers on their album Live! do a rock charged version of the song as the first part of a medley with Let The Sun Shine In
* The Pogues on the 2005 re-release of their 1987 album "If I Should Fall from Grace with God".

References

*McGinn, Roger, "South Australia", from [http://www.ibiblio.org/jimmy/folkden-wp/?p=6958 Roger McGinn's Folk Den] . Retrieved April 30, 2008.
* [http://www.telinco.com/seekers/THE_SEEKERS.htm The Seekers Discography]
* [http://poxyboggards.com Poxy Boggards, Anchor Management]
*The Clumsy Lovers, "Live!"

External links

Video

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vUqeDPZZ80 South Australia] , performed by The Fisherman's Friends (the Port Isaac town choir) with Show of Hands