If you’re one of those people who look in the mirror and whisper to yourself, “It’s a pirate’s life for me,” then this list is for you! If you’re one of those people who would rather hop on a ship and head down to the middle of the ocean and look for some sunken or buried treasure, then this list is for you. If you’ve always wanted a parrot on your shoulder, then—well, you get the idea.
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Here below, we wanted to explore three timeless sea shanties. A trio of tunes best sung out on the briny deep before you make your worst enemy walk the plank. Indeed, these are three eternal sea shanties for the briny deep.
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“Drunken Sailor”
This song, which dates back to the early 1800s, is about the repercussions levied onto a sailor who can’t hold his liquor and can’t keep from drinking in the early working hours. While the song gives some instructions about what should be done if a ship of sailors finds such a scallywag, the song itself is usually sung in unison while people are working on the ship. Perhaps as a warning for those contemplating the idea of going off and swilling all the wine before dawn. Indeed, the lyrics read,
What will we do with a drunken sailor?
What will we do with a drunken sailor?
What will we do with a drunken sailor?
Early in the morning!
Way hay and up she rises
Way hay and up she rises
Way hay and up she rises
Early in the morning!
Shave his belly with a rusty razor
Shave his belly with a rusty razor
Shave his belly with a rusty razor
Early in the morning!
“Blow the Man Down”
This sea shanty, which dates back to the mid-1800s, is another work song, the meaning of which is a bit unclear. Does its refrain point to fisticuffs? To toppling over another ship? To summoning another on the boat for a task? Or is it a way of mocking the man in charge? It’s a bit unclear, albeit the lyrics are nevertheless catchy. What is clear is the singer is an old seaman and he’s seen a lot of the Earth on a ship. He’ll sing for a drink and he’ll tell you his tales from going all over the world. Indeed, the lyrics read,
Come all ye young fellows who follow the sea
(To me!) Wey hey, blow the man down
And pray pay attention and listen to me
Give me some time to blow the man down
I’m a deep water sailor just in from Hong Kong
(To me!) Wey hey, blow the man down
If you buy me a drink, then I’ll sing you a song
Give me some time to blow the man down
“Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me)“
This song dates back to 1967 as part of Walt Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean. It’s a song that celebrates the life of a pirate. The pillaging and plundering life that allows for these terrorists of the sea to take whatever they want. Indeed, the lyrics of the tune describe the lifestyle of these rapscallions. They read,
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me
We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
We kidnap and ravage and don’t give a hoot
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me
We extort and pilfer, we filch and sack
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
Maraud and embezzle and even hijack
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me
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Photo courtesy of Wellington Sea Shanty Society
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