Sea shanties and maritime music

For without his chanty the seaman could not have worked the under-manned and underfed, and often sty-fed, vessels in which he went up and down the world; he could not have set sail to favoring breeze or furled it from destroying gale. There is nothing like a song to lift any kind of work along; and a chanty was then – and still is, on the few square-rigged wanderers left on the seas – as good as ten men on a rope's end, capstan-bar, or windlass-brake.

William Brown Meloney IV, The Chanty Man Sings, 1926

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

Jack the Sailor
Forecastle song

It happen'd on an evening clear,
As down the quay I walked ,
I chanc'd to meet a maiden fair,
That with her father talked.
Said he, "Your love is come on shore,
The only man you do adore;
Your folly now you must give o'er,
Don't wed that tarry sailor!"

"Oh, father dear, do not us part,
Nor try to separate us;
For if you do 'twill break my heart,
Great grief it will create us!
His love to me is most secure,
And mine to him shall firm endure,
Betide me life or death, I'm sure,
I'll wed none but my sailor.

Up comes young Jack as brisk's a bee,
And says, "My dearest Nancy,
I am now safe return'd to thee,
My heart's delight and fancy.
I've been where stormy winds do blow,
And oft have fac'd the deadly foe;
Say, will you have me, yea or no,
And wed poor Jack the sailor?"

"Two hundred pounds left by your aunt,
Three hundred more I'll give you;
But if you marry without consent,
One farthing I'll not leave you.
Besides, to marry you're too young,
And sailors have a flattering tongue;
So from my presence quick begone,
If you wed that tarry sailor."

Says Jack, "I don't regard that sum;
My dear, I've gold in plenty.
Believe me, sir, I do not come
To court with pockets empty."
Five hundred guineas in bright gold
Upon the table down he told,
And swept them in her apron fold,
"Take that and Jack the sailor."

Her father seeing his honest heart,
And that he was so clever,
Said, "'Tis a pity you to part,
You shall be join'd for ever.
As you so freely give your store,
And you each other do adore,
Then take her, Jack, with as much more,
For you're a clever sailor.

"Now, messmates, we've got safe to port,
And I am happy married;
I hope, my lads, we'll have some sport,
And crown the day with claret.
My frigate's rigged neat and tight,
With silks and rings all gay and bright,
And I shall shew you all this night,
That I'm a happy sailor."