Cape Cod Girls

(a.k.a. "Bound For Australia")

Words & Music:

Traditional Sea Shanty

 

Traditionally, this would be sung as an a capella call & response work song – with the shantyman singing the verses and all chiming in on the responses & choruses.  So, the chords are just for singalong reference (the version I know is by the Mystic Seaport Chanteymen).  The "two-haul" nature of the response line seems to indicate that this would be a long-haul or halyard shanty.  But correct me if I am wrong!

 

G                                                C      G

Cape Cod girls they have no combs.  Heave away!  Heave away!

G                                                      C      G

They comb their hair with codfish bones.  Heave away!  Heave away!

 

CHORUS:

G              C            G                  C      G

Heave away, my bully, bully boys!  Heave away! Heave away!

G            C                G                            C  G

Heave away & don't you make a noise, we are bound for Australia!

 

Cape Cod boys they have no sleds.  Heave away!  Heave away!

They slide down dunes on codfish heads.  Heave away!  Heave away!

 

CHORUS:

 

Cape Cod doctors got no pills.  Heave away!  Heave away!

They give their patients codfish gills.  Heave away!  Heave away!

 

CHORUS:

 

Cape Cod cats ain't got no tails.  Heave away!  Heave away!

They lost them all in Cape Cod gales.  Heave away!  Heave away!

 

CHORUS:

 

Cape Cod moms don't bake no pies.  Heave away!  Heave away!

They feed their children codfish eyes.  Heave away!  Heave away!

 

CHORUS:

 

 




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