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The sailorman's shanty was a tune they sang together to aid them in coordinating their work aboard the tall sailing ships of the world. It eased the work, as all were pulling together.
Additional verses would be created as necessary until the job was completed.
The Drunken Sailor, a capstan chanty, was a moderate tune sung when hauling anchor. In order to raise the anchor, bars were inserted into the capstan, and the men would walk around it, turning the capstan to raise the anchor, straining at the bars and stomping their feet on the deck on the words "Way Hay, Up She Rises" as the bow of the ship sank into the trough of the swell, holding fast as the bow rose with the sea. |
Chorus
Way, hay up she rises,
Way, hay, up she rises,
Way, hay, up she rises,
Earlye in the morning!
What will we do with the drunken sailor?
What will we do with the drunken sailor?
What will we do with the drunken sailor?
Earlye in the morning?
Put him in a long boat and row him over
Hoist him aboard with a running bowline
Put him in the scuppers with the hose pipe on him
Hoist him up to the topsail yardarm
Put him in the brig until he's sober.
Make him clean out all the spit-kids
Make him turn to at shining bright work.
Make him do 12 steps all day and all night.
That's what you do with a drunken sailor
(The last line of this verse is followed
by "Amen") |