Lyrics

Farewell Shanty (Padstow Farewell)

It’s time to go now,
Haul away your anchor,
Haul away your anchor,
It’s our sailing time.

Get some sail upon her,
Haul away your halyards,
Haul away your halyards.
It’s our sailing time.

Get her on her course now,
Haul away your foresheets,
Haul away your foresheets,
It’s our sailing time.

Waves are surging under,
Haul away down Channel,
Haul away down Channel,
On the evening tide.

When your sailing’s over,
Haul away for Heaven,
Haul away for Heaven,
God be by your side.

It’s time to go now,
Haul away your anchor,
Haul away your anchor,
It’s our sailing time.

Song Notes

Recorded by the Boarding Party. Mervyn Vincent is described as “a Cornwall music traditionalist.” He apparently passed away circa 1979.

There is a spirited discussion on Mudcat Café regarding the origin and veracity of the discovery by Alan Molyneux and/or Mervyn Vincent of this song in a book.

“It’s my song in as much as I found it in a book. And I couldn’t read the music, so I got some bugger  (Alan Molyneux) to tell me the tune. And I was hoping that one day they’d put it on a record ’cause it’s ‘ansome!”

Johnny Collins recorded this on his Travellers Rest collection, and has been further recorded by very many groups.