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

The Dolphin
Forecastle song

Our ship she laid in harbour, in Liverpool docks and more,
Awaiting for fresh orders her anchor for to weigh;
Bound down to the coast of Africa, our orders did run so:
We’re going to sink and destroy, my boys, no matter where we go.

We had not been sailing scarce fifty leagues or more,
When we espied a lofty ship and down on us he bore;
He hailed us in French colours, he asked us where and whence we came.
“We just come down from Liverpool town and the Dolphin is our name.”

“Are you a man-of-war, sir? Pray tell me what you be.”
“I am no man-of-war, sir, but a pirate ship you see.
Come heave up your fore and main yards and let your ship come to,
Our tackles are overhauled and our boats are all lowered, or else we will sink you.”

Now our Captain stood on the quarterdeck, he was brave and fearless too.
“It’s three to one against us,” he cried out to his crew;
“If it hadn’t have been for my younger brother, this battle would never been tried.
Let every man stand true to his guns and we’ll give to them a broadside.”

Now broadside to broadside which caused all hands to wonder,
To see that French lofty’s mast come rattling down like thunder;
We shot them from our quarterdeck ‘til they could no longer stay,
Our guns being smart and we played a fine part and we gave them Liverpool play.

Now this large French ship was taken and in Liverpool docks was moored,
We fired shots to our sweethearts with the nice little girls on shore;
We lowered down the French colours, and we hoisted the red, white and blue,
We’ll drink success to the Dolphin and all her jovial crew.

The Dreadnaught
Forecastle song

There is a flash packet, flash packet of fame,
She hails from New York and the Dreadnaught's her name,
She is bound to the westward... where the stormy winds blow,
Bound away in the Dreadnaught to the westward we'll go.

Now the Dreadnaught is hauling out of Waterloo dock,
Where the boys and the girls to the pierhead do flock,
They give her three cheers, as the tears down do flow,
Crying "God bless the Dreadnaught where'er she may go!"

Now the Dreadnaught she lies in the river Mersey,
Awaiting the tugboat to take her to sea,
Out around the Rock Light where the salt tides do flow,
Bound away to the westward in the Dreadnaught we'll go.

Now the Dreadnaughts a-howling down the wild Irish Sea,
Her passengers merry, with hearts full of glee;
Her sailors like lions walk the deck to and fro;
She's the Liverpool packet_O Lord, let her go!

Now the Dreadnaught is sailing the Atlantic so wide,
Where the high roaring seas roll along her black side,
With her sails tautly set for the Red Cross to show
She's the Liverpool packet-O Lord, let her go!

Now the Dreadnaught is crossing the Banks of Newfoundland,
Where the water's so green and the bottom's all sand,
Where the fishes of the ocean they swim to and fro,
She's the Liverpool packet-O Lord, let her go!

And now she is sailing down the Long Island shore,
Where the pilot will board us as he's oft done before.
"Fill away your main-topsail, board your main-tack also !"
She's the Liverpool packet-O Lord, let her go!

Now the Dreadnaughts arrived in New York once more.
Let's go ashore, shipmates, on the land we adore.
With wives and with sweethearts so happy we'll be,
And drink to the Dreadnaught wherever we be.

Now a health to the Dreadnaught and all her brave crew,
To bold Captain Samuels and his officers too;
Talk about your flash packets, Swallowtail and Black Ball,
The Dreadnaughts the flier that outsails them all.