If you’ve been looking for Leave Her Johnny lyrics, especially if you’d like to print them out, you’re on the right page.
“Leave Her Johnny” is an old sea shanty with English or Irish origins. It’s also known as “Leave Her Johnny, Leave Her” or “Leave Her Bullies”. It first appeared in Stan Hugill‘s book Shanties from the Seven Seas (1917), where the author describes it as “a halyard” and as “a pump shanty”. Although there is no further information about its origins, the song shares the same melody as the shanty Across the Western Ocean. The latter was inspired by the attempt of the poor Irish people to flee the Great Famine of 1846-1850.
“Her” who’s being left is the ship itself – not a woman. This shanty was traditionally sung at the end of a voyage, when the ship was tied up in port and during the last round of pumping it dry. More than that, it served as an expression of the crew’s complaints towards their officers just before they left, when they didn’t have the fear of punishment.
It’s not hard to imagine that the content of the lyrics would change according to the occasion and so would the degree of discontent from the crew on board. That explains why there are many different versions to be found today.
On this page you’ll find the lyrics of the song in the version prominent in most of today’s performances and a printable PDF file with lyrics for free download. You can also watch two sing-along videos. Enjoy!
Table of Contents
Printable Leave Her Johnny Lyrics PDF
Click on the button to download a PDF file with lyrics to this song for free.
Leave Her Johnny Lyrics
I thought I heard the Old Man say:
“Leave her, Johnny, leave her!”
Tomorrow ye will get your pay
And it’s time for us to leave her!
Leave her, Johnny, leave her!
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her!
For the voyage is long and the winds don’t blow
And it’s time for us to leave her!
Oh, the wind was foul and the sea ran high
“Leave her, Johnny, leave her!”
She shipped it green and none went by
And it’s time for us to leave her!
Leave her, Johnny, leave her!
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her!
For the voyage is long and the winds don’t blow
And it’s time for us to leave her!
I hate to sail on this rotten tub
“Leave her, Johnny, leave her!”
No grog allowed and rotten grub
And it’s time for us to leave her!
Leave her, Johnny, leave her!
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her!
For the voyage is long and the winds don’t blow
And it’s time for us to leave her!
We swear by rote for want of more
“Leave her, Johnny, leave her!”
But now we’re through so we’ll go on shore
And it’s time for us to leave her!
Leave her, Johnny, leave her!
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her!
For the voyage is long and the winds don’t blow
And it’s time for us to leave her!
Music Videos
Sing-along Video
Sing-along Video with Lyrics
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