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Sea shanties and maritime music

"I've put in a good many hard years on shipboard," old Tom Shea told me, "and I've shipped with some queer lookin' crews, but let me tell ye that when the shanties was started everything got jolly and cheerful at once, and the men that never seen each other before acted like wot they was old friends. — And ye needn't think," he added, "that the shanties was all noise and yellin'. There was some fine singers in them old crews, and it was great to hear them at the shanties."

W. R. Mackenzie, Ballads and Sea Songs from Nova Scotia, 1928

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

Retour de Marin
Forecastle song

Poor sailor coming back from the wars - All is fine!

(Repeat first line in each verse as chorus)

One foot shod, the other nude,
"Poor sailor, from whence come ye?" - All is fine!

"Madame, I have come home from the wars - All is fine!
He drank and he sang,
But the lovely hostess cried - All is fine!

The gallant sailor drinks the wine - All is fine!
He drank and he sang,
But the lovely hostess cried - All is fine!

"What is the matter with you, lovely hostess - All is fine!
Are you sorry for your white wine
That the sailor is drinking" - All is fine!

"It is not my wine that I regret - All is fine!
It's because I've lost my husband,
Mister, he looked like you" - All is fine!

"Ah, tell me, my lovely hostess - All is fine!
Didn't you have two children by him -
And now you have four" - All is fine!

"When they wrote and told me the news - All is fine!
That he was dead and buried,
I married again" - All is fine!

The gallant sailor drank his wine - All is fine!
Without thanks and sorrowful,
Went back to his ship - All is fine!
Du Runer von Hamborg
Hauling shanty

The sea ran, and the wind it blows,
Ch: Kümmel and beer for me!
Sailor John is a rorty chap,
Ch: Oh, Kümmel and beer for me!

Rouse out all hands - away on deck,
The Old Man wants the tops'ls stowed.

And when we now to Hamburg come,
Ye'll see there all the runners stand.

Oh, there you are, Elias, you rogue,
I've seen you many times before,

Well, I know you need a brand new hat,
I have one in the latest style.

And a handerkerchief most certainly,
And a new tie, too, you also need.

And also a bit of cotton and soap,
And one pound for amusement.

Oh, what about a drop of kümmel?
An' a big cigar tasting so fine?

I'm paying off, oh, that is clear,
We'll go ashore and shout hurrah!
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!
John Dameray
Hauling shanty

Aloft we all must go oh,
Ch: John come down the backstay,
In hail and frost and snow-oh,
Ch: John come down the backstay, John Dameray!

John Dameray - John come down the backstay
John Dameray - John come down the backstay
John Dameray

John Dameray - John come down the backstay
John Dameray - John come down the backstay
John Dameray

My ma she wrote to me,
"My son, come home from sea."

Got no monay and no clo'es
Am knocking out of doors.

My home I soon will be in,
And then we'll have some gin.

From sea I will keep clear
And live by selling beer.
Mainsail Café, 2025 Contact