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Sea shanties and maritime music

But a vista of lofty ships seen as in the prismed light of a supernal dream! Such a fleet it was, such a sight as this earth shall never see again.

As far as the eye could reach, along the city's Bayside flank, rose sheer a masted forest, gleaming as with precious gems.

William Brown Meloney IV, The Chanty Man Sings, 1925

This Day in History (February 29, 1908)

This Day in History (January 8, 1806)

The death of Lord Nelson was a national tragedy like no other for England. "From Greenwich to Whitehall Stairs, on the 8th of January, 1806, in one of the greatest Aquatic Processions that ever was beheld on the River Thames" drifted the royal shallop (barge). The event is referenced in the modern lament, Carrying Nelson Home. Nelson is mentioned in nearly a dozen other songs.

Try a random shanty sampling

Roll the Cotton Down
Hauling shanty

Come roll the cotton down, my boys
Ch: Roll the cotton down;
Come roll the cotton down, my boys
Ch: O roll the cotton down!

Come hither, all you negro boys,
Come hither, all you negro boys

A dollar a day is a white man's pay,
A dollar a day is a white man's pay

Ten dollars a day is a black man's pay
Ten dollars a day is a black man's pay

The white man's pay is rather high,
The white man's pay is rather high

The black man's pay is rather low,
The black man's pay is rather low

Around Cape Horn we're bound to go,
Around Cape Horn we're bound to go

So stretch it aft and start a song,
So stretch it aft and start a song
Mingulay Boat Song
Fishing song

Hill you ho, boys; Let her go, boys;
Bring her head round, now all together.
Hill you ho, boys; Let her go, boys;
Sailing home, home to Mingulay.

What care we though white the Minch is?
What care we for wind or weather?
Let her go boys! ev'ry inch is
Wearing home, home to Mingulay.

Wives are waiting on the bank, or
Looking seaward from the heather;
Pull her round boys! and we'll anchor,
'Ere the sun sets at Mingulay.
Lowlands
Heaving shanty

I dreamed a dream the other night
Ch: Lowlands, Low-lands, hurrah, my John
I dreamed a dream the other night
Ch: My Lowlands, away!

I dreamt I saw my own true love,
I dreamt I saw my own true love.

He was green and wet with weeds so cold,
He was green and wet with weeds so cold.

"I am drowned in the Lowland seas," he said,
"I am drowned in the Lowland seas," he said.

"I shall never kiss you again," he said,
"I shall never kiss you again," he said.

I will cut my breasts until they bleed,
I will cut my breasts until they bleed.

I will cut away my bonny hair,
I will cut away my bonny hair.

No other man shall think me fair,
No other man shall think me fair.

O my love lies drowned in the windy Lowlands,
O my love lies drowned in the windy Lowlands.
Johnny Boker
Hauling shanty

Do, my Johnny Boker, come rock and roll me over, do my Johnny Boker, do!

Do, my Johnny Boker, the skipper is a rover, do my Johnny Boker, do!

Do, my Johnny Boker, the mate he's never sober, do my Johnny Boker, do!

Do, my Johnny Boker, the bo'sun is a tailor, do my Johnny Boker, do!

Do, my Johnny Boker, come roll me in the clover, do my Johnny Boker, do!
Mainsail Café, 2025 Contact