Salt and Canvas

Heave, my boys, at dawn

The harbor shakes awake

Cold spray on the rail

And tar runs black as snakes

One more haul for the crown

One more line to draw

Grip the rope, don't slack

Or the deep will take your jaw

Pull, pull, hands on tight

Feel that timber strain

She won't sing for the weak

She'll only sing for the brave

Way, hey, haul away

Way, hey, haul away

Hold that line, don't sway

Way, hey, haul away

Way, hey, haul away

Way, hey, haul away

If the sea takes one

We'll come back ten more ways

Mackerel flash below

Like coins in a torn green purse

We laughed at the storm

Then it answered us first

Rain hit like stones

And the mast bent low

Still we rowed through the teeth

With a cracked old song to go

Pull, pull, hands on tight

Feel that timber strain

She won't sing for the weak

She'll only sing for the brave

Way, hey, haul away

Way, hey, haul away

Hold that line, don't sway

Way, hey, haul away

Way, hey, haul away

Way, hey, haul away

If the sea takes one

We'll come back ten more ways

Oh, the moon wore thin

And the night got mean

But I saw your lamp

Through the salt and steam

So brace your knees

And lift your name

We were born for the tide

And the tide knows our frame

Way, hey, haul away

Way, hey, haul away

Hold that line, don't sway

Way, hey, haul away

Way, hey, haul away

Way, hey, haul away

If the sea takes one

We'll come back ten more ways