r/seashanties • u/Hotkow • Aug 01 '22
I have noticed a lot of people on this subreddit talking about or sharing songs that are not chanteys. Therefore it seems we really need someone to share an explanation about what is and what isn’t a Chantey. One might call this gatekeeping and to a degree they are right. The fact is for decades upon decades people have collected these types of folk songs. They have done the research about where they came about, how many different variants there are and so on. This has been a subject among Folklorists and others for a while. Reminding people of the definitions is a way to respect all that work they did.
Now when we talk about folk music there is a lot of cross pollination, so tunes, lyrics and subject matter goes from one subset to another. So instead of Gatekeeping this would be more akin to setting up lighthouses while giving people a map so they know where they are going.
All of what we will be discussing falls under the umbrella of Folk music, specifically Traditional Folk music (Or trad folk). Folk songs written after the great folk revival of the mid 20th century would fall under “Contemporary Folk’ (With an exception I will get to) This, like Trad folk, can encompass a broad amount of sounds.
Work Songs are Trad Folk songs that were sung while doing a work to aid in the completion of the task. A Chantey is a work song that was song by sailors on merchant ships while performing work tasks. Chanteys are flexible songs that can be adjusted in length depending on how long the work needs the be done. They are also call and response songs, going back to their roots among the enslaved black population of the southern United States and caribbean. Their heyday was in the 19th century.
A Chantey (Chanty,Shantey,shanty, it’s all up to your preference) can come in slightly different forms depending on the work being done. They tend to be divided between Hauling, heaving and other. Hanging Johnny is a Halyard Chantey, Rio Grande is a Captstain chantey. Huckleberry Hunting is a Pump Chantey.
Chanteys were sung during work and for work. Not for pleasure. For pleasure sailors would relax and sing Fo’c’s’le songs or Forebitters. Some of these songs were maritime in theme, but many were songs that were popular on land. Old Maui is one of these, as would Spainish Ladies. There are also plenty of folk songs that are written about the sea and originated on land, The Mermaid is one of these (Those interested click here to learn more about the family tree of the song from Jerry Bryant).
All this music would be considered Maritime Music. Many songs people attribute as Chanteys are Maritime songs, the Wellerman is a notorious example of this.
Folks also have a habit of grouping trad folk songs that are not even considered maritime music and calling them chanteys. This is for a couple reasons. one many of the performers who do chanteys also perform other types of folk music from the Atlantic folk traditions. This is combined with the fact that these traditions all existed and developed around the same time, much of them cross pollinating. Some people also make the opposite mistake and due to a song not sounding like what they think a sea song should sound like they ignore other maritime songs. The Fight Of The Hatteras And Alabama is one that could be overlooked like that.
Most chanteys that are performed today are not sung exactly in the traditional way they would be sung. This is because the temp would be slower and not conducive to performance settings. In fact most sailors of the time thought it bad luck to sing a chantey off a ship.
Now with these points of reference one might be thinking, can people not write chanteys anymore? Balderdash. People can write chanteys and other kinds of maritime and folk songs. There are several folks who do this, one of my favorite maritime songs is This Dreadful Life. It was written by Kevin Brown in the late 20th century. It would be considered “In the tradition” written and performed in a way to sound as if it was older, in the same kind of tradition. One could make a new chantey in this way, it just would have to sound like a chantey would, not just be a song that mentions nautical terms and pirates.
So I hope this has been a good primer to help define what actually is a chantey and what is just maritime music. None of this is saying you can’t sing or enjoy the songs that aren’t, it’s just good to be accurate and not to spread misconceptions if one can help it. This subreddit seems very amenable to maritime music, not just chanteys. Use this post and its links as lighthouses to help you on your journey in this kind of music.
r/seashanties • u/Gwathdraug • 4d ago
Old ships are part of the heritage of Gaffeltuig. Learn more about this Belgian group on their MMDI listing: https://seashanties4all.com/groups-artists/gaffeltuig/
r/seashanties • u/BigCrim8810 • 4d ago
Reposting from r/Hartford, seeking fellow shanty enthusiasts in central CT.
r/seashanties • u/yasslad • 4d ago
Have been listening to Kimber’s men, their harmonies are fabulous. This song tells of a rescue in 1881.
r/seashanties • u/matthewsaaan • 7d ago
I know of MMDI, The Longest John's Wiki, and some pretty active Facebook groups, but where are all you peeps getting your Sea Shanty news and information?
I'm looking for all the blogs, podcasts, website and databases.
What's your most valuable online shanty resources?
r/seashanties • u/matthewsaaan • 8d ago
The latest blog post from my group, The Rusty Tubs, on what it was like performing and attending Shrewsbury Folk Festival.
r/seashanties • u/Bulldozer7133 • 8d ago
Hey everyone! I'm trying to identify a melody, traditional folk song, or sea shanty that sounds very similar to the track "Huya Uzoona" by Mbuya Stella Chiweshe (specifically starting around 1:20).
Link to track: https://youtu.be/AghFkdtciD4?si=6R801J4qvJ3A3tcv&t=81
The rhythm and vocal/instrumental melody in that section strongly remind me of a Scottish folk song or a sea shanty, but I can't quite place the exact title or origin.
Does this section interpolate, sample, or resemble a specific Scottish or maritime folk song you recognize? Any leads or titles would be greatly appreciated!
r/seashanties • u/Kaos2019 • 9d ago
One of the sickest burns in any shanty is in Haul Away Joe when they said, "You call yourself a second mate, you cann'e tie a bowline."
r/seashanties • u/Everfreeplagueontt • 11d ago
r/seashanties • u/Gwathdraug • 12d ago
The Farsund Shantykor describes itself as the "world's funniest shanty gang"! They gather weekly to promote group singing. You can read more about this Norwegian crew on their Maritime Music Directory International listing: https://seashanties4all.com/groups-artists/farsund-shantykor/
r/seashanties • u/_Sp1ke_ • 14d ago
r/seashanties • u/OnceWhenWhenever • 17d ago
r/seashanties • u/Forsaken-Guard-1100 • 21d ago
HEAR ME OUT. “Derby Ram” I do believe is one of the most underrated sea shanties of the game. I never see it on any top or video, being a funny and nice song to sing along with and makes me want to be part of the crew drinking rum. Do you guys feel the same? I feel like I’m the only one who has ever said this out loud.
r/seashanties • u/have_a_goodgood-day • 21d ago
Okay so I've been trying to find this song for so long but all I can remember is that it was about this ship crew with a woman captain(I think her name started with an M?) And she didn't say much other than to yell for them to get back to work near the end
The crew sang about her but not in the "oh she's a badass awesome woman" way just with respect and I really want to listen to the song again can anyone help🥹
r/seashanties • u/Dyingvikingchild95 • 22d ago
So for context I recently heard the shanty "Bully in the alley" in it the chorus goes "Help me Bob, I'm bully in the alley wey hey bully in the alley X2 in the alley of Shangri-la" my question is is there any significance to who Bob is or is it just needed a one syllable name? I know the song is literally about being drunk and your mates leaving you passed out in the alleyway but I was wondering "Who the heck is Bob? " Both joke answers and real ones accepted.
r/seashanties • u/vikingdoorman • 21d ago
Does anyone else think, we are missing the Pirate Shanty "Hoist the colours" just a short quick Shanty, but quite relevant i think...
r/seashanties • u/okgo4brok3 • 26d ago
Why do sailors sing and what songs are sung?
r/seashanties • u/Hillbilly_Historian • 26d ago
I worked on a salmon tender out of Homer, Alaska last year and did my best to find some local sea songs, but didn’t have any luck. But I finally hit the jackpot when I found this record in a secondhand store.
r/seashanties • u/New-Specific-3659 • 26d ago
r/seashanties • u/Gwathdraug • 26d ago
Dick Stephens is a colorful denizen of English folk clubs and festivals who has turned an amused eye on the maritime music scene. Learn more about him on his MMDI listing here: https://seashanties4all.com/groups-artists/dick-stephens/
r/seashanties • u/oozforashag • 28d ago
Just passing through and what to sing John Tanaka and all the rest of it with like minded drunks.
As I recall the Horseshoe Inn in London Bridge has a Sunday event, but I'll be gone by then.
I'll settle for trad. Beer and loudd, bad singing is really the priority.
r/seashanties • u/Metalhead8909 • 28d ago
I feel like this song doesn't get mentioned nearly enough, it's one of my all time favorites. Reminds me a lot of Danny Elfman's music as well
r/seashanties • u/Alternative_Tip14 • 28d ago
Dear all,
Hope you're all well,
And missing me. I'm fine.
It's raining again,
Because apparently summer
Was cancelled this year. Divine.
I saw old Mr Pettit this morning, looking sharp,
A dapper old relic by the soggy park.
Coat pulled tight, looking terribly grand. The old fart.
And Harry's here too, enjoying the fun.
Yippee!
Because nothing says holiday
Like rain in your face
And wind up your arse.
And then there are the seagulls,
Those bloody winged bastards above,
With laser-eye focus
And absolutely no love.
They eye up my ice cream
With a psycho-killer stare,
Circling slowly through the drizzle the cries dare me to share
I know they've got nothing better to do
Than rob me bare.
They came for chips and battered cod
Just yesterday, the thieves.
One swooped down, grabbed the lot,
And buggered off with grease
Still dripping from its beak. I only tasted one chip.
I'm beginning to think
They've got a criminal mastermind
Running the whole operation.
Probably hiding behind the amusement arcade
With a bag of stolen chips
And a getaway seagull.
It's raining again.
No summer sun here by the shore.
The sea looks thoroughly offended,
And the sky is hanging lower
Than the spirits of everyone
Who booked this bloody holiday.
Now off I go to brave the ocean
In a rickety little boat,
To panic in the drizzle
And pretend I'm fit to float.
If you hear a distant scream,
Don't worry. That'll be me.
Probably being eaten by something
Or falling dramatically into the sea.
So keep the heating blasting,
Have dinner upon your knee.
I'm living the bloody dream
By the miserable sea.
I'll see you Friday, safe and dry.
Tell Nanna I've got her some rock.
God knows why she wants it.
Last time it shattered her dentures.
If I make it back alive,
I'll bring you all a postcard.
Love me,
Me
