Sea shanties have a rich history intertwined with maritime culture and seafaring traditions. These work songs were sung by sailors on ships to synchronize their efforts and provide rhythm during various tasks. Here’s a brief outline of the history of sea shanties:
Origins
16th – 17th Century
Sea shanties have their roots in the maritime traditions of European countries, particularly England and France. Sailors sang simple, repetitive songs while performing laborious tasks like hauling ropes, hoisting sails, or manning the pumps. These early shanties were known as “halyard shanties” or “capstan shanties” because they were sung during specific tasks.
Evolution
18th – Early 19th Century
As European maritime exploration and trade expanded, sea shanties evolved to reflect the multicultural crew composition on ships. Shanties incorporated influences from African and Caribbean music brought by enslaved individuals and sailors. This fusion gave rise to new shanty forms, such as “forebitters” or “chanties,” which were sung during leisure time and had more diverse melodies and themes.
Decline & Revival
Late 19th – 20th Century
DECLINE & REVIVAL (Late 19th to 20th century)
With the advent of steam-powered vessels and technological advancements, the need for shanties diminished. Recorded music and radio further reduced their popularity. However, in the mid-20th century, there was a renewed interest in folk music and maritime history, leading to a revival of sea shanties. Folk musicians and enthusiasts began performing and recording shanties, ensuring their preservation and continued popularity.
Contemporary Influence
21st Century
In recent years, sea shanties have experienced a resurgence in popular culture. Social media platforms, such as TikTok and YouTube, played a significant role in making sea shanties go viral. In 2020 “The Wellerman” sea shanty, in particular, gained widespread attention, inspiring countless covers and remixes by musicians worldwide although Mariners Away had adopted it as part of our repertoire well before then.
Sea shanties continue to captivate audiences today, preserving the legacy of seafaring traditions and offering a glimpse into the lives of sailors from the past. Their infectious melodies and communal spirit evoke a sense of camaraderie and adventure on the open seas.
Types of Sea Shanties
Shanties were songs crafted and sung by those sailing the seas before the era of steam-powered ships, mostly associated with the 19th century. The working songs, known as shanties, were sung for short drag (short haul) or long drag (halyard), capstan (windlass), pumping and whaling shanties.
The short drag (short haul) shanties were for tasks that required short bursts of energy and a quick pull as when unfurling or shortening a sail. With steady rhythm, the crew worked in unison to get the job done safely and efficiently; critical in rough seas. Example: “Paddy Doyle’s Boots”.
The long haul (halyard) shanties were for tasks that required heavy labor over a long period of time, usually demanding more time to set up the work, taking a deep breath and getting a fresh grip, as when raising or lowering a heavy sail. This type of shanty has a chorus at the end of each line such as “Drunken Sailor” or “Haul Away Joe”.
The capstan (windlass) shanties were for repetitive tasks that needed to be sustained with the appropriate rhythm as when raising or lowering the anchor. Envision the crew trudging round and round as they worked as one, continually pushed the capstan bars to wind up anchor chain. These shanties had a strong beat for synchronized pushing or pulling, like “Heave Away, Haul Away” or “Blow the Man Down”.
Pumping shanties – wooden ships leak a lot and the work to pump the bilge dry was gruelling work below decks in the bowels of the boat. These shanties had a lively rhythm to keep the sailors motivated, such as “Doodle Let Me Go” (aka “Yeller Girls”) or “Spanish Ladies.”
The whaling shanties reflect the harshness and danger of working aboard a whaling ship. Typically at sea for two years or more, a whaler’s life was often short-lived and the work was gruelling and wretched. It was the whaling shanty that gave them strength and courage to stay the course in the midst of the worst circumstances, foul stench and life-threatening risks. A notable example is “Bonny Ship the Diamond”.