sea shanties masterpost
“one man cannot bring in the anchor. ten men cannot bring in the anchor. but together we can.”
making this because it’s useful for my specific brand of dramaturgy and i generally have a good deal of feelings about sea shanties. these are the result of far too much time searching around for shanties that are both authentic and have a tune that can be found on the internet. organized by theme.
these can all be done a capella, obviously, but if you want accompaniment, getting your hands on a concertina would be ideal.
General Shanties
Roll the Old Chariot Along (David Coffin)
Haul Away, Joe (The Eskies)
Rant and Roar (Howling Gael)
Haul Away the Bowline (The Exmouth Shantymen)
Departing
Away Rio (David Coffin)
Leave Her, Johnny (Coda)
The Rosabella (skip to 3:15) (Wareham Whalers)
Off to Sea Once More (The Black Irish Band)
Clear Away in the Morning (Great Bay Sailor)
South Australia (Johnny Collins)
Randy Dandy Oh (Johnny Collins)
Girls
With You, Fair Maid (skip to 14:30) (Before the Mast)
Spanish Ladies (unknown artist) (psa this one is in moby-dick!!)
Bully in the Alley (skip to 24:10) (Before the Mast)
London Julie (Three Sheets to the Wind)
Excursion Round the Bay (The Fables)
The Maid of Amsterdam (The Roaring Trowmen)
Storms
Round Cape Horn (Cyril Tawney)
Fish in the Sea (youtube user threelegsomen)
To Old Maui (skip to 9:28) (Before the Mast)
Drinking
The Boatman’s Cure (John Roberts)
Drunken Sailor (Irish Rovers)
Fifteen Men (unknown artist)
Newer/Environmentally Conscious
No More Fish, No More Fisherman (David Coffin)
The Last Leviathan (skip to 13:40) (Fisherman Friends) (bit of a stretch to call this a shanty per se but it’s really good and sad so)
Sea Shanties are my favorite, I sing them all the time, especially when walking or working
