fortuitoussstarfish:

“one man cannot bring in the anchor. ten men cannot bring in the anchor. but together we can.”

making this because it’s useful for my specific brand of dramaturgy and i generally have a good deal of feelings about sea shanties. these are the result of far too much time searching around for shanties that are both authentic and have a tune that can be found on the internet. organized by theme.

these can all be done a capella, obviously, but if you want accompaniment, getting your hands on a concertina would be ideal.

General Shanties

Roll the Old Chariot Along (David Coffin)

Haul Away, Joe (The Eskies)

Rant and Roar (Howling Gael)

Haul Away the Bowline (The Exmouth Shantymen)

Departing

Away Rio (David Coffin)

Leave Her, Johnny (Coda)

The Rosabella (skip to 3:15) (Wareham Whalers)

Off to Sea Once More (The Black Irish Band)

Clear Away in the Morning (Great Bay Sailor) 

South Australia (Johnny Collins)

Randy Dandy Oh (Johnny Collins)

Girls

With You, Fair Maid (skip to 14:30) (Before the Mast)

Spanish Ladies (unknown artist) (psa this one is in moby-dick!!)

Bully in the Alley (skip to 24:10) (Before the Mast)

London Julie (Three Sheets to the Wind)

Excursion Round the Bay (The Fables)

The Maid of Amsterdam (The Roaring Trowmen)

Storms

Round Cape Horn (Cyril Tawney)

Fish in the Sea (youtube user threelegsomen)

To Old Maui (skip to 9:28) (Before the Mast)

Drinking

The Boatman’s Cure  (John Roberts)

Drunken Sailor (Irish Rovers)

Fifteen Men (unknown artist)

Newer/Environmentally Conscious

No More Fish, No More Fisherman (David Coffin)

The Last Leviathan (skip to 13:40) (Fisherman Friends) (bit of a stretch to call this a shanty per se but it’s really good and sad so)

deermouth:

“Hekate, I bare my teeth: canines as your twin swords.
You are a shield.
You stare with burning eye and you command:
“None shall touch the innocent!”
Your black-furred companions snarl, and
I feel myself in them, O magnificent goddess.
I, so soft and green, press myself to your side.
In the afterimage of your shadow,
Crimson, skulled, luminescent,
I feel the flame of your desire, and your power.”

— To Hekate Kurotrophos, L.K.

deermouth:

“Hekate, I bare my teeth: canines as your twin swords.
You are a shield.
You stare with burning eye and you command:
“None shall touch the innocent!”
Your black-furred companions snarl, and
I feel myself in them, O magnificent goddess.
I, so soft and green, press myself to your side.
In the afterimage of your shadow,
Crimson, skulled, luminescent,
I feel the flame of your desire, and your power.”

— To Hekate Kurotrophos, L.K.