Makem & Clancy - Leave Her Johnny

Oh, I thought I heard the old man say
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
It's a long, hard pull to the next pay day
And it's time for us to leave her

Chorus:
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her
Oh, the voyage is done and the winds don't blow
And it's time for us to leave her

Oh, pull you lubbers or you'll get no pay
Oh, pull you lubbers and then be lay

Oh the skipper was bad, but the mate was worse
He'd blow you down with a spite and a curse

And I thought I heard the old man say
It's a long, hard pull to the next pay day

Category:

Music

Tags:

• folk

[SiemEik]

What a great heritage! Suppose this song was forgotten.... Thanks Tommy and Liam.

[gregwyatt46]

Beaut! Love that tenor/bass harmony in the chorus.

[KeshHarp]

Rest ye gentle now lads..Pat, tom, Liam and Tommy darlin...for the sake of recordings like this, ye'll never leave us...Oiche maith, Slan!

[carebearpink0123]

Skip to 2:30 if you are impatient. :)

[tribegoddess]

We left her, alright. The drunken capt'n cut a buoy and took off her keel. On a calm sea off the point, you can still see her bones 50 years later, but I'm old and will never see her again save in my dreams. I am all that's left of the crew. Fred Jack

[McAleen]

this was sung coming into port, it was a sailors way of telling her capt, he could find another crew.

[Jangofett221]

@proxxyyy Why? I love listening to them banter it back and forth.

[proxxyyy]

save some time, click 2:15

[icestripe]

The boys choir at my song is singing this at my Highschool, while the girls choir is singing 'Johny Said no!' Its going to be very amusing!

[Domitianvs]

Ah, the banter at the beginning. That's what folk music is all about.

[Ambidexter143]

This was the traditional chantey sung at the end of the voyage. While the chorus didn't change, the verses were tailored to describe the voyage. The crew was being paid and dismissed so they could make any comments they wanted without fear of retribution by the officers. This version can be considered a generic version of the chantey.

[TheRacherry]

vilkavec: If there is a Heaven, you belong there for postings these videos. Having been immersed in Makem and Clancy Brother songs these past two months, I thought I had head everything--but then I came across this gem, which I had not heard in years. Thanks much. I've been a fan of the Brothers and Tommy for 40 years. There are many who appreciate and love their music as much as me; but no one who appreciates and loves it more.