This Halyard Shanty is also called “Down the Bay to Juliana” or “Emma, Emma”; A.L. Lloyd recorded it in 1974, calling it “Roll Her Down The Bay”, but also “Emma Let Me Be” another time.  It can be a real bring-down-the-house song when the room is singing in full-throated chorus!

Jos. Morneault

Emma, Emma let me be
Rolling down the bay to Julianna
Emma, Emma let me be
Rolling down the bay to Julianna

It’s Oh Miss Emma don’t you cry
Goodbye me darlin’ girl goodbye

Wish I had that girl in tow
I’d tow her up to Callao

Them Windward girls they all love me
But now I’m bound away to sea

Windard girls are hard to beat
Haul boys on your ol’ mainsheeet

Why do them Judies love me so?
Because I don’t tell all I know

Oh the dawning of the day
Haul away an’ get your pay

Haul boys when she takes a roll
Shake an’ break her, blast your soul

Sweat that yard, the mate did say
One more pull an’ then belay