Haul on the Bowline

Song Information

Composer: Traditional

Lyric Author: Traditional

Published: 16th Century

Country of origin: English

General Interest

This song can be dated by its primary line - “haul on the bowline”, which before the 17th century meant a rope (sheet) that holds a square sail towards the bow of a ship.

The more modern use of the word is for a type of knot, often used in a nautical setting, for to fasten a mooring line to a ring or a post. Under load, it does not slip or bind

Interestingly, this song also appears in the video game Assassin’s Creed 3!

Bowline is pronounced bow-lin where bow rhymes with toe, not cow.

Here's a link to the Lyric:

Haul on the Bowline Lyric

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