[Intro] [Fast shouted lead, crew answers immediately, voices only] Tortuga ahead! (TORTUGA AHEAD!) Then pull, you bastards! (PULL TILL WE'RE DEAD!) We’ve seen no shore for ninety days, We’ve cursed the wind in ninety ways, So bend your backs and haul her true, There’s rum ashore for me and you! [Verse 1] Three months out and the rum ran dry, Salt pork black and the biscuits fly, The cook lost teeth in a game of dice, The captain swears that the rats taste nice, We patched the sail with a widow’s gown, And half the crew wants the bosun drowned, But land is rising beyond the foam, And every drunkard is smelling home. [Chorus] Haul away, haul away, Tortuga tonight! (Haul away!) There’s rum in the barrel and fire in the light! (Haul away!) We’ll drink our gold and lose our pay, Wake up broke by break of day, Haul away, boys, hard and true, Tortuga’s waiting for me and you! [Verse 2] Old Ned owes money in every bar, Young Will claims he’s a fighting star, Big Tom swore he’d behave this time, Then punched a priest before half past nine, We’ll gamble shirts, we’ll gamble boots, We’ll trade our coats for stolen fruits, And when the landlord throws us out, We’ll find another place to shout. [Chorus] Haul away, haul away, Tortuga tonight! (Haul away!) There’s rum in the barrel and fire in the light! (Haul away!) We’ll drink our gold and lose our pay, Wake up broke by break of day, Haul away, boys, hard and true, Tortuga’s waiting for me and you! [Work Chant] [Short shouted lines, strong call-and-response, steady vocal rhythm only] Pull! (PULL!) Hold! (HOLD!) Haul that line! (HAUL THAT LINE!) Port side high! (PORT SIDE HIGH!) Keep her straight! (KEEP HER STRAIGHT!) Wind is fair! (DON’T TEMPT FATE!) One more league! (ONE MORE LEAGUE!) One more mile! (ONE MORE MILE!) I can almost smell the ale! (THAT AIN’T ALE!) [Single sailor] Who said that? [Crew] THE COOK! [Work Chant Continues] Raise that rag! (RAISE IT HIGH!) Mind that rope! (MIND YOUR EYE!) Who fell over? (ONLY JOE!) Should we turn? (HELL NO!) [Single distant voice] I CAN SWIM! [Crew] THEN SWIM FASTER! [Verse 3] The harbour grows beneath the sun, Every man knows what must be done, Hide the knives and hide the loot, Find the captain’s other boot, Wash your face in half a pail, Tell the guards a cleaner tale, Smile politely, bow your head, And pray they haven’t heard who’s dead. [Pre-Chorus] [Lead sailor] What are we? [Crew] HONEST MEN! [Lead sailor] Where’ve we been? [Crew] NOWHERE! [Lead sailor] Wh
