Homeward Bound

a.,k.a. Good-Bye, Fare You Well

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The homeward-bound shanty "Good-bye, Fare You Well" was sung at the capstan. Stan Hugill calls it "the most popular homeward-bound shanty of them all." Lyrics from Iron Men & Wooden Ships, by Frank Shay

Oh, fare you well, I wish you well! Good-bye, fare you well; good-bye, fare you well! Oh, fare you well, my bonny young lassies, Hurray, my boys, we're homeward bound! Oh, don't you hear our old man say Good-bye, fare you well; good-bye, fare you well! We're homeward bound this very day? Hurray, my boys, we're homeward bound! We're homeward bound, and I hear the sound, Good-bye, fare you well; good-bye, fare you well! So heave the capstan and make it spin round. Hurray, my boys, we're homeward bound! Our anchor's aweigh and our sails they are set, Good-bye, fare you well; good-bye, fare you well! And the gels we are leaving we leave with regret. Hurray, my boys, we're homeward bound! She's a flash clipper packet and bound for to go; Good-bye, fare you well; good-bye, fare you well! With the gels on the tow-rope she cannot say no. Hurray, my boys, we're homeward bound!

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