A musical treat with a noble history

Timbers were shivered and mainsails were hoisted at our August meeting, when the “talk” was something a bit different. With no PowerPoint presentation in sight, George Tudor-Hart and his shipmates from the Colliers Wood Shanty Singers came and treated us to some traditional songs of the sea, with song sheets available so everyone could join in on the choruses. George began by explaining the origins of the shanty, a working song for sailors, designed to help them maintain a collective rhythm while doing jobs like loading cargo, winding capstans or manning pumps. Originally it was more of a merchant navy tradition: George explained that in the merchant service no owner would want to hire more men than absolutely necessary, so shanties were a vital way to enable a small number of men to do a physical job efficiently. The Royal Navy, on the other hand, has as many men as they wanted and did not hold with shanty singing. However, in time these sailors demanded shanties too.

The specific tunes sung were:

Haul on the Bowline

Probably the oldest of the evening, but one which became redundant in Tudor times when the bow line ceased to be a rope of importance. However, it remained a favourite as a short drag shanty, where a few good pulls coming on the haul at the end of each verse. The word bowline is still in use as the name of a useful knot.

Lowlands Away

A pump shanty of 17th-century origin, probably from the Anglo Dutch wars. It is a lament describing the desolation felt when a drowned lover returns in a dream.

Whisky-O

A halyard or capstan shanty, possibly from 17th century. Celebrating the seaman’s favourite tipple, this was popular aboard English and American ships on the North Atlantic routes, due to the availability of the liquor. On Royal Navy ships rum from the British West Indian colonies and was issued, watered down, as “grog”.

Spanish Ladies

A Royal Navy song found in logbook of HMS Nellie 1796. After victory over the French on the Iberian peninsular, British troops were returned to Britain but any Spanish wives, girlfriends or families were not allowed to return with them.The lyrics recount the route of the returning ships up the English Channel and the land marks passed on the way.

Maid of Amsterdam

A capstan or pump shanty, possibly Elizabethan or Jacobean. This is a cautionary tale about young sailors who had amorous encounters with foreign women, who would either turn out to be married, or would take all his money or leave him with an STD. This version is from about 1840.

Row On

The lyrics were found in the captain’s logbook of the American whaler the Three Brothers out of Nantucket in 1846, owned by Joseph Starbuck and named after his sons William, Matthew and George. The Three Brothers became famous for making Starbuck the equivalent of a modern-day multimillionaire by bringing home 6000 barrels of whale oil. The lyrics reflect the song’s Quaker origins and were set to music in the 1970s by Sussex musician Tim Laycock. The whales, however, had their revenge, for the Three Brothers was lost with all hands in the Northern Ocean in 1877.

Randy Dandy O

A boisterous, outward-bound capstan or pump shanty, from the early 19th century. It is said to be an unsubtle mockery of ships officers who were required to maintain uniform at sea, quite dandyish compared to other ranks. “Rollicking” is a stand-in term for “bollocking”, vulgar slang meaning a dressing down.

Whip Jamboree

A capstan or windless shanty. Probably the most wild and exuberant of all the homeward-bound songs, it describes the progress up the Channel. It expresses the excited anticipation of what shore leave may have to offer at the end of a long and hard voyage.

After a 15-minute pause for a drink, the assembled throng agree they were ready for a couple more songs, accompanied by a hornpipe dance! Many thanks to George and his shantymen and women.

You can see a video of the performances on our YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/teEhUElkszI.

You can see more photos from the evening at www.flickr.com/photos/sheridanclub/albums/72177720319401896.