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