What are shanties

Around the turn of the century steamships entered service. They replace more and more sail ships. With the demise of these sail ships, also called tall ships, the demise of the so called shanties set in. These rhythmic working songs where sung during e.g. the raising or trimming of the sails, during the raising of the anchor and during the hard and monotonous work on the pumps.

There are more than one explanations about the word "Shanty". One of those says it is a degeneration of the English word "chant", this means something like singing, a definition for negro songs. An other explanation says that it is a degeneration of the France word "chanter". The france speaking negro-ship workman in New-Orleans used to pronounce this as "chantez.

Apart from working songs are also ballads sung. These ballades describe the hard life on board the tall ships, about the arbitrariness by the officers, about the good or bad properties of the ship or about the emotional links with the shore. Some of these ballads started life as working songs by wood-cutters or gold diggers. Others were sung by negroes loading and unloading cargo. In general we can say that shanties are those songs that support the work. The rhythm of these songs is important.

The rest, mostly melancholy songs (fore-bitters), can be described as sea songs. Both categories give a clear picture of life on board the international sailing fleet.

Types of shanties
There are two main kinds of shanties. First are the work shanties that are divided into short drag (short haul), long drag (halyard), windlass, and capstan songs. Second are the forecastle or fo'c'sle shanties. These are often ballads or tell of some historical event, and take their name from the part of the ship where the singing usually took place, the forecastle, which was the crew's quarters.

Short Drag Shanty

Short drag or short haul shanties were for tasks that required quick pulls over a relatively short time, such as shortening or unfurling sails. When working in rough weather these songs kept the sailors in a rhythm that got the job done safely and efficiently.

Long Drag Shanty

Long drag or halyard shanties were for work that required more setup time between pulls. It was used for heavy labour that went on for a long time, for example, raising or lowering a heavy sail. This type of shanty gave the sailors a rest in between the hauls, a chance to get a breath and a better grip, and coordinated their efforts to make the most of the group’s strength for the next pull. This type of shanty usually has a chorus at the end of each line.

Capstan Shanty

Capstan (or windlass) shanties were used for long or repetitive tasks that simply need a sustained rhythm. Raising or lowering the anchor by winding up the heavy anchor chain was their prime use. This winding was done by walking round and round pushing at the capstan bars, a long and continuous effort. These are the most developed of the work shanties.

Forecastle Shanties

In the evening, when the work was done, it was time to relax. Singing was a favored method of entertainment. These songs came from places visited, reminding the sailors of home or foreign lands. Naturally the sailors loved to sing songs of love, adventure, pathos, famous men, and battles. Of course after all the hard work just plain funny songs topped their list.

Whaling Shanties

Life on a whaler was worse than on any other type of vessel; your life might be shorter on a pirate’s ship, but the work wouldn't be so hard! Voyages typically lasted from two to three years, and sailor’s lives were filled with unrelenting, dangerous work and the ever-present stench of whale oil. Whalers risked maiming and death when giving chase in small boats that were often overturned or even smashed by the whale’s tail in the fight! Songs helped give these men the will to go on in the face of their dreadful circumstances.

http://www.shanty.org/