LEAVE HER, JOHNNY
This was, traditionally, the last chantey the crew would sing before disem-barking. It was used when warping (pulling) the ship into the pier, or when pumping the bilges for the last time. Although it at first sounds like the crew is sentimental about leaving the ship, the lyrics describe the horrible conditions that they suffered through during the voyage. Since it was the 1ast song of the journey, the sailors took the opportunity to vent their feelings about how they were treated without fear of reprisal.
Oh, the times were hard and the wages low,
leave her, Johnny, leave her.
And now ashore we must go,
and it’s time for us to leave her
CHORUS
Oh! Leave her, Johnny, leave her,
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her,
for the voyage is done and the winds don’t blow,
and it’s time for us to leave her
Well there’s no more voyages around cape horn,
Leave her, Johnny, leave her,
Where you know the weather’s never warm,
and it’s time for us to leave her
CHORUS
Oh! Leave her, Johnny, leave her,
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her,
for the voyage is done and the winds don’t blow,
and it’s time for us to leave her
We ate rotten meat and weevely bread,
leave her, Johnny, leave her,
And it was pump or drown the old man said,
and its time for us to leave her
CHORUS
Oh! Leave her, Johnny, leave her,
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her,
for the voyage is done and the winds don’t blow,
and it’s time for us to leave her
I thought I heard the first mate say,
leave her, Johnny, leave her,
Tomorrow you will get your pay,
and its time for us to leave her
CHORUS
Oh! Leave her, Johnny, leave her,
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her,
for the voyage is done and the winds don’t blow,
and it’s time for us to leave her
Now the rats have gone and we the crew,
leave her, Johnny, leave her,
Why now ashore we’ll go, too,
and its time for us to leave her
CHORUS
Oh! Leave her, Johnny, leave her,
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her,
for the voyage is done and the winds don’t blow,
and it’s time for us to leave her
