Songs Aboard Ships
Folk songs reflect the lives of those singing them. Sea
shanties were popular among sailors from the 18th to the 20th
century. This style of work song could be heard in American merchant vessels
prior to the Civil War.
These tunes could be heard while men adjusted the rig or
raised the anchor. They were also sung when other tasks required the men to
work together in rhythm, such as rowing.
About these team songs, experts say their
rhythms were precise and often used call-and-response elements. African
Americans who sang while loading these ships, stoking steamboat furnaces and
other tasks are credited with influencing these work songs that were belted out
by all.
Freedom To Sing
In some instances, the lyrics, which were easily adapted,
allowing sailors and slaves alike to sing about what they might not otherwise
be able to talk about.
The range of music also included elements of minstrel music,
popular marches and regional folk songs. Traditionally, they are grouped into
three primary types: short haul shanties for shorter trips; halyard shanties
for heavier work and capstan shanties for long, repetitive tasks.
Examples
One classic sea shanty example was a popular American folk
song that had Irish roots. “Poor Paddy
Works on the Railway" while being a song about the railroad was adapted to
be a work tune about working on a boat on Erie.
Other memorable sea shanties included “Blow the Man Down” and
“Drunken Sailor”.
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