A sea shanty is basically a song, the rhythm of which sailors would work to while working. The song provided harmony in activities such as pulling ropes or lifting things in the absence of equiptment, where all of the crew would pull on a certain syllable. The song is usually song by a shantyman, and the crew would say in harmony repeated lines.
I suddenly had in me, recently, the urge to write a sea shanty. In memory of the gone age of sail, and for the adventure-seeker inside all of us, here is my sea shanty.
a sea shanty, by Tyler Hartke (regular text is the shantyman, italics is the rest of the crew)
I love life on the open sea;
To sail forever more!
Scarce food and rats and scurvy;
Get me to the shore!
Of grand adventure, salty breeze;
To sail forever more!
The women scarce and pesty;
Get me to the shore!
Grand treasure lay a waiting free;
To sail forever more!
The Kraken may yet chase thee;
Get me to the shore!
All the rum did you ever dream;
To sail forever more!
Though death appears quite stormy;
Get me to the shore!
The lovely sea did set me free;
To sail forever more!
Wish I could see my fam'ly;
Get me to the shore!
~Tyler
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment