Unmooring

[ Roud 8227 ; Ballad Index HGam108 ; trad.]

Hughie Jones and Friends sang Unmooring in 2005 on their Fellside album Liverpool Connexions. He noted:

Captain Whall in his collection, Sea Songs and Shanties, 1910, describes this as an example of the ‘professional song’ meaning it is more likely to have originated in the wardroom rather than the fo’c’sle. Nevertheless he says it was a favourite before the mast as it has a nice chorus about the girls.

The Davenports sang Unmooring in 2024 on their Hallamshire Traditions album Strange Vagaries. They noted:

Despite the banning of shanty singing in the 19^th century Royal Navy, this is from the Whall collection. The lyric here is based on wording in the 1818 Royal Navy midshipman’s handbook.

Lyrics

Unmooring in Sea Songs and Shanties

“All hands on board!” our boatswain cries,
His voice like thunder roaring.
“All hands on board!” his mates reply,
’Tis the signal for unmooring.
Then your messenger bring to,
Heave your anchor to the bow.

Chorus (twice after each verse):
And we’ll think on those girls when we’re far, far away.

Go loose your topsails next, he cries,
Top gallant sails and courses,
Your jibs and royals see all clear,
Haul home those sheets, my hearties.
With a light and pleasant gale
We will crowd aloft our sail.

Your anchor’s now a-peek, he cries.
Vast heaving, lads, vast heaving;
Your cat and fish now overhaul,
The capstan nimbly leaving.
Then obey your boatswain’s call,
Walk away with that cat-fall.

Farewell to friends, farewell to foes,
Farewell to dear relations,
We’re bound across the ocean blue,
Bound for a foreign station.
While we cross the raging main,
The Union Jack we will maintain.

The Davenports sing Unmooring

Chorus (twice after each verse):
And we’ll think of those girls when we’re far, far away.

Go loose your topsails next, he cries,
Top gallant sails and courses,
Your jibs and royals see all clear,
Haul home those sheets, my hearties.
With a fine and pleasant gale
We will crowd aloft our sail.

Your anchor’s now a-peek, he cries,
Vast heaving, lads, vast heaving;
Your cat and fish now overhaul,
The capstan nimbly leaving.
Then obey your boatswain’s call,
Walk away with that cat-fall.

Farewell to friends, farewell to foes,
Farewell to dear relations,
We’re bound across the ocean blue,
Bound for a foreign station.
While we cross the raging main
The Union Jack we will maintain.

Farewell to friends, farewell to foes,
Farewell to dear relations,
We’re bound across the ocean blue,
Bound for a foreign station.
As we cross the raging main
The Union Jack we will maintain.