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

Homeward Bound
Heaving shanty

At the Blackwall Docks we bid adieu
To Kate and Polly and Sal and Sue.
Our anchor's weighed and the sails unfurled,
We've bound outway across the world,
Hoorah we're outward bound,
Hoorah we're outward bound.

The wind it blows from east-nor'east,
Our ships she sails nine knots at least.
And the girls stand on the docks and cry.
While there's grog we'll ne'er say die,
Hoorah we're outward bound,
Hoorah we're outward bound.

At last the captain comes aboard,
Our sails are bent and we're manned and stored.
And the Peter's hoisted at the fore,
Goodbye to the girls we'll see no more,
Hoorah we're outward bound,
Hoorah we're outward bound.

One day the man on the lookout,
“There's a sail to the wind'ard,“ he will shout,
She's a pilot standing out from the land
And it's up on deck comes every man.
Hoorah we're homeward bound,
Hoorah we're homeward bound.

Now when we get to the Blackwall docks
Them pretty young girls come down in flocks.
And one to the other you'll hear 'em say,
“Oh, here comes Jack with his ten months pay.
For I see you're homeward bound,
I see you're homeward bound.”

And when we get to the Dog and Bell
Where there's good pizon for to sell,
In comes old Grouser with a smile,
Saying, “Drink my lads, it's worth your while,
For I see you're homeward bound,
Hoorah we're homeward bound.”

But when your money's all gone and spent,
And there's none to be borrowed and none to be lent,
In comes old Grouser with a frown,
Saying, “Get up, Jack, let John sit down,
For I see you're outward bound,
Hoorah we're outward bound.”

Then poor old Jack must understand
The ships in the docks are wanting hands.
So he ups his gear as he's done before
And he says goodbye to his native shore
For he is outward bound,
Hoorah we're outward bound.