The Ballad of the Broken Haul
A raucous fusion of epic sea shanty and drunken Irish pub song unfolds with robust accordion, pounding bodhrán, rowdy fiddles, and gang vocals in thick Irish accents. Vigorous call-and-response hooks ride a swinging rhythm, building to boisterous full-band refrains.
Freddiedk·3:29
3:29
The Ballad of the Broken Haul
A raucous fusion of epic sea shanty and drunken Irish pub song unfolds with robust accordion, pounding bodhrán, rowdy fiddles, and gang vocals in thick Irish accents. Vigorous call-and-response hooks ride a swinging rhythm, building to boisterous full-band refrains.
Creator: FreddiedkRelease Date: March 9, 2026
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
We sailed out light at a gray dawn tide
Fresh tar on the ropes
New scars on our pride
The captain swore this run was blessed
Gold in the hold
Then a week of rest
[Verse 2]
Sky turned sour by the second bell
Black wall of water
Straight out of hell
Hull took a shudder
Lanterns died
I tasted the foam and I heard her slide
[Chorus]
Raise your glass for the broken haul
For the crates we lost and the near cold call
We came back poor
But we came back all
So we drink
So we drink
For the damned
Broken haul
[Verse 3]
Barrels slipped loose
Heard the timbers crack
Cargo like cannonballs rolling aft to back
Mate went flying
Teeth in the air
Prayed to a saint I don’t even think is there
[Verse 4]
Charts all swimming on the cabin floor
Compass spun circles
Pointed everywhere but shore
Captain’s hands shook on the twisted wheel
Swore if we lived
We'd drink to the deal
[Chorus]
Raise your glass for the broken haul
For the crates we lost and the near cold call
We came back poor
But we came back all
So we drink
So we drink
For the damned
Broken haul
[Bridge]
[low vocal register]
We limped in late through the harbor gate
Salt in our lungs
And the wind spitting hate
Harbor-master sneered at our empty deck
"All that risk for a busted wreck?"
[Verse 5]
So we pawned the nails and the shredded sail
Sold off the anchors to pay the ale
Kept the bell from her bow
Kept the name from the roll
And we poured out a round for the ship’s old soul
[Chorus]
Raise your glass for the broken haul
For the crates we lost and the near cold call
We came back poor
But we came back all
So we drink
So we drink
For the damned
Broken haul
[Outro]
[whispered vocals]
To the haul that sank and the fools who stayed
[full band
Gang vocals]
We’re alive
We’re ashore
And the tab’s half-paid
Bang the table
Let the curses fall
We lost the lot—but we drank it all
We sailed out light at a gray dawn tide
Fresh tar on the ropes
New scars on our pride
The captain swore this run was blessed
Gold in the hold
Then a week of rest
[Verse 2]
Sky turned sour by the second bell
Black wall of water
Straight out of hell
Hull took a shudder
Lanterns died
I tasted the foam and I heard her slide
[Chorus]
Raise your glass for the broken haul
For the crates we lost and the near cold call
We came back poor
But we came back all
So we drink
So we drink
For the damned
Broken haul
[Verse 3]
Barrels slipped loose
Heard the timbers crack
Cargo like cannonballs rolling aft to back
Mate went flying
Teeth in the air
Prayed to a saint I don’t even think is there
[Verse 4]
Charts all swimming on the cabin floor
Compass spun circles
Pointed everywhere but shore
Captain’s hands shook on the twisted wheel
Swore if we lived
We'd drink to the deal
[Chorus]
Raise your glass for the broken haul
For the crates we lost and the near cold call
We came back poor
But we came back all
So we drink
So we drink
For the damned
Broken haul
[Bridge]
[low vocal register]
We limped in late through the harbor gate
Salt in our lungs
And the wind spitting hate
Harbor-master sneered at our empty deck
"All that risk for a busted wreck?"
[Verse 5]
So we pawned the nails and the shredded sail
Sold off the anchors to pay the ale
Kept the bell from her bow
Kept the name from the roll
And we poured out a round for the ship’s old soul
[Chorus]
Raise your glass for the broken haul
For the crates we lost and the near cold call
We came back poor
But we came back all
So we drink
So we drink
For the damned
Broken haul
[Outro]
[whispered vocals]
To the haul that sank and the fools who stayed
[full band
Gang vocals]
We’re alive
We’re ashore
And the tab’s half-paid
Bang the table
Let the curses fall
We lost the lot—but we drank it all