Episode 8: Sea Shanties
But there is something to be said about why a sea shanty, a tune from a time most people know or think little about, happened to become a viral phenomena overnight
Sea shanties and ballads have long been a way to bring people together.
Their simplicity of tune and rhythm means anyone can partake, so long as you can remember the words - or not, that’s fine too.
You can always just mumble along.
But the words to sea shanties are often very simple, allowing people of many languages, backgrounds, and cultures to be able to understand and participate in the communal activity of song.
While shanties were used for working - and exclusively so, ballads, like the Wellerman were used to entertain and tell stories.
And if TikTok has anything to show for itself, they do the same thing now.
The sailors saw them as a way to pass the time, vent through a creative outlet, tell stories, and bring the crew together and ease into a form of peace, in whatever situation they may find themselves.
Global Pandemic or a life at sea - shanties offer a sense of comfort.
Show Notes
[:39] Scottish Postman Sings Sea Shanty on TikTok
A Scottish postman by the name of Nathan Evans, joined the app TikTok to fill his time. He posted a video of himself singing Wellerman, a song that tells the tale of some Newzeland Whaler’s never ending hunt for the big ocean beast. It tells how the sailors were desperate for the relief of finally returning to shore and feeding on the sugar, tea, and rum, that the Weller company supply boat could bring them. Overnight, Nathan’s song was a sensation.
[1:35] Why Sailors and Modern Society in a Pandemic Love Sea Shanties
Sea shanties and ballads have long been a way to bring people together. Their simplicity of tune and rhythm means anyone can partake, so long as you can remember the words - or not, that’s fine too. You can always just mumble along. But the words to sea shanties are often very simple, allowing people of many languages, backgrounds, and cultures to be able to understand and participate in the communal activity of song.
[3:00] When and Why Sea Shanties Were Sung
While shanties were used for working - and exclusively so, ballads, like the Wellerman were used to entertain and tell stories. A chanty was an essential part of work aboard the merchant ships, you could alost claim a sea shanty was amongst the most valuable member of the crew. Shanties allowed the crew a communal rhythm while working so maximum effort could be applied while hauling and heaving.
[3:35] Why Sea Shanties Were Important
If a member of crew was playing an instrument, that’s a hand that could be working, and it’s an all hands on deck situation when it comes to heaving on board merchant ships.
[4:00] The Three Types of Shanties
There are three types of sea chanties, Hauling chanties, Heaving chanties and Pump chanties.
[4:10 ] Hauling Shanties
Hauling chanties were, as the name states, sung for hauling lines - to set sail and hoist the yards.
[4:20] Earlie in the Mornin’
One of the most famous sea shanties of all time is a hauling chanty called “early in the mornin’”
[5:00] The Shantyman
The chanties were led by a member of the crew known as the chantyman. The shantyman knew exactly which song provided the right tempo for the work needing to be done. Sometimes he might decide to change a song mid task if a different rhythm was needed. Think about it, hauling a mainsail requires a very different effort at the beginning of the job compared to the end.
[6:10]Blow the Man Down
Another very famous hauling shanty is “Blow the man down”
[7:10] Heaving Shanties
The next type of tune were heaving chanties. These types of chanties were often called out when working with the capstan. The capstan is essentially just a really big winch, typically used for hauling the anchor. You know that mental image you have of sailors on ships, with wood rods in a cylinder on deck, all of them walking in circles - that’s the capstan.
[8:25] Pump Shanties
The last and final type of sea chanties were the pump shanties. These songs were simple. The motion of pumping required less skill, and so did the songs. Since pumping generally happened when a ship was taking on water, and often in danger, pump songs had a more somber tone to them.
[8:40] Shanty Superstitions
Like most things with sailors, shanties were surrounded by much superstition. To sing a sea chanty for pleasure, or even worse, away from the ship and on land was taboo. To do such a thing would anger the sea gods.
[9:40] Forecastle Shanties / Ditties /Forebitters
During downtime sailors would head up to the forecastle to swap stories in the form of sung verse. These became known as forecastle shanties, though no sailor would ever use the term shanty for them. The mariners knew these pieces as ditties or forebitters. Thankfully, the royal navy did allow for the enjoyment of ditties, singing after working hours was perfectly acceptable and even encouraged. These ditties, or forbidders often took the form of a ballad, like the Wellerman.
[10:34] Decline of the Sea Shanty
As all good things come to an end, so came the decline of the sea shanty. The steak engine took hold, no hauling, heaving, or pumping remained. As the shanties disappeared, books were written containing the lyrics in an effort to keep them alive. The folk community clung onto them in an effort to preserve the traditions of those who came before us.
Connect with Sydney Zaruba:
Listen to Rummer the Rum Runner on Spotify
