I was born in Te Awamutu, 25th of June 1952

Ten pounds of boy

Haul away, haul away, haul away

My mother and father's pride and joy

Richard and Mary, drink to my journey

Haul away



I left home at the age of thirteen

Went to boarding school on a scholarship

Small fish, big sea

Haul away, haul away, haul away

No more happy childhood days for me

Catholic condition

Strength thru exhaustion

Haul away



At 21, I was thirsting for experience

and my brain was about to burst

Stare at the rug

Haul away, haul away, haul away

That novel approach worked like a drug

Nothing was different

Everything changed then

Haul away



Years ago in an Auckland flat this odyssey began

Motivates me still, Northward I'm bound

Haul away, haul away, haul away

Ambition has lost me friends and time

Young men are waiting, lapping at my heels

Haul away



Now I'm having a nervous breakdown

But my mates will see that I don't go down

Love goes all wrong

Haul away, haul away, haul away

It's all we can do to carry on

Everyone has their own little story

Haul away