"Heave Away" (alsoHeave Away, My Johnny) is a traditionalsea shanty, with origins unknown.
The earliest print version of the song is from a collection ofCecil Sharp in 1904 from Captain Vickery ofMinehead, Somerset, England.[1][2][3][4]
The song was described by American folkloristKenneth S. Goldstein as, "A favourite shanty for windlass work, when the ship was being warped out of harbour at the start of a trip."[4]
In 1957, it was recorded as "Heave Away, My Johnny" by English folk singersA. L. Lloyd andEwan MacColl on their album of whaling ballads and songs,Thar She Blows.[4]
In 1964, English folk singerLou Killen sang "Heave Away My Johnny" in 1964 on the Topic anthology of sea songs and shanties,Farewell Nancy.[4]
In 1968, it was recorded as "Heave Away My Johnny" by Irish folk groupThe Clancy Brothers andTommy Makem on their album of sea songs,Sing of the Sea.
In 1997, it was recorded as "Come Get Your Duds In Order (Heave Away)" by CanadianCeltic rock group The Punters on their second album "Said She Couldn't Dance".
In 1998, it was recorded as "Heave Away" by CanadianCeltic rock groupThe Fables on their debut albumTear the House Down. The Fables version has enjoyed continued popularity in their home province ofNewfoundland and Labrador and inAtlantic Canada in general, withCanada using it as theirgoal song during the2023 IIHF World Junior Championship held inHalifax, Nova Scotia andMoncton, New Brunswick.[5][6] The song had previously been used by theToronto Maple Leafs in the mid-2000s as their goal song.[6]
In 2015, it was recorded as "Heave Away" by Canadian folk band, The Bombadils, on their album "Grassy Roads, Wandering Feet".