"Haul Away Joe"

This is the standard by which all short-drag shanties are judged. “Haul Away Joe” is one of the most popular sea shanties but oddly enough, also one that most don’t know the words to. It’s been covered many times, particularly by bearded string bands from Brooklyn dead-set on reaching into the past so they can ruin it. Hell, the Simpsons parodied it in season 26.

A tribute to the officers and men of the 19th century Navy and USMC.

The soft-loud-soft dynamic here is hardly anything new. I usually see it mentioned as a style Nirvana borrowed from the Pixies, which makes sense if you think that music began in the 80s. It’s frequently used in sea shanties. But it’s different with voices than instruments. The song doesn’t simply become louder. It becomes more powerful. It becomes propulsive. One voice becomes a dozen deep-voiced seamen.

And there’s a reason for that: this is designed for short drags. (Or short “hauls” to use the parlance of our times.) Let’s look at the chorus:  

“Way, haul away, we’ll haul away together
Way, haul away, we’ll haul away, Joe!
Way haul away, we’ll haul for better weather
Way, haul away, we’ll haul away, Joe!”

It’s not just repeating because it’s a chorus: The crew is supposed to pull the rope quickly at “Together” and “Joe.” Short-drag shanties are used for activities that require short, highly coordinated bursts of energy. “Haul Away Joe” kept every crewmember on the same, simple rhythm.