This shanty, also known as Rolling King or Ruler King, was used at both the capstan (for raising the anchor) and at the pumps. Numerous versions exist. Shantyman and folk song collector Stan Hugill noted that it was unusual for a shanty to mix both “Heave away” and “Haul away”, ‘heaving’ generally being reserved for the job of pushing the capstan round and ‘hauling’ for raising the sails. But both made sense at the pumps, whose handles were attached to large wheels and so had to be both pushed and pulled.
The recording is by the Wild Myrtles, directed by Frances Cockburn.
Words
In South Australia I was born! Heave away! Haul away! South Australia round Cape Horn! And we’re bound for South Australia!
Heave away, you rolling king, Heave away! Haul away! All the way you’ll hear me sing, And we’re bound for South Australia!
As I walked out one morning fair, It’s there I met Miss Nancy Blair.
There ain’t but one thing grieves my mind, It’s to leave Miss Nancy Blair behind.
And as you wallop round Cape Horn, You’ll wish to God you’d never been born!
I wish I was on Australia’s strand, With a bottle of whisky in my hand.
Oh, rock and roll me over, boys, Let’s get this damn job over, boys.
Traditional
Purchase – 2059: Bound for South Australia (SSAB)
Before you click the "buy" button, please enter the name of your group and select the appropriate size.
The price depends on the number of singers in your group.
This is a single payment for a licence to make as many copies as you
need for your group to rehearse and perform the song. You can also re-print
- for instance, to replace copies that get lost or worn out.
Copies must not be given, lent, hired or sold to any other group.
Orders are normally despatched within 24 hours - not
instantly, because each PDF file is created specially
for the purchaser.
Canasg sales are processed via Paypal. Paypal lets you pay with a simple
credit or debit card if you don’t have a Paypal account.
Your Paypal transaction will be in
sterling and it will be converted automatically if
your credit card draws on a different currency.
Paypal passes none of your secure information to Canasg.
If you would like us to send an invoice before you pay, or if you would like your order priced in $US or Euros,
then please e-mail your order to us instead of using the form above.
