Alexandra Coghlan

From ancient Greece to TikTok: a short history of the sea shanty

Sea shanties are a symbol of the temporary, fragmented world they come from: the Atlantic

Many things are now normal that would have seemed unlikely a year ago. But even in this strange new world the sudden rise of the sea shanty is, perhaps, strangest of all.

It all started in December when Nathan Evans, a postman from North Lanarkshire, posted a video of himself online — a lone figure filmed in no-frills close-up, hoodie high under the chin, beanie pulled down to the eyes — singing the 19th-century whaling song ‘Wellerman’. A trickle of views became a storm, thousands turning to millions (now billions) and just like that sea shanties went from kitsch, Last Night of the Proms novelty to global phenomenon. The song went viral — the centre of a new internet craze: #ShantyTok.

Fast forward a few months and Evans, whose song went to No.1 in the UK charts this week, has signed a three-album deal with Polydor, while Bristol-based folk group the Longest Johns (whose arrangement Evans covered) have a record deal with Decca. Everyone from John Legend to Jon Snow has joined the online obsession, and the song has been remixed in every genre from heavy metal to electro-dance; there’s even a ‘Wellerman’ fugue. So what exactly are we to make of this unlikeliest of musical trends?

The history of the sea shanty is a curious one, not least because it’s a tradition that has spent longer on land than it ever did at sea. Greek poet Pindar, author of the earliest surviving account of the legend of Jason and the Argonauts, lists first among the crew of the Argo none other than Orpheus ‘father of songs’, whose chants set the rhythm for the rowers, while a model of an Egyptian boat from 2,000 BC in New York’s Metropolitan Museum includes a musician facing the crew. Similar examples from Bronze Age carvings, Viking history, from Herodotus and Thucydides add weight to the ancient roots if not precisely of the shanty, then certainly the shantyman, whose job was to lead and synchronise sailors through song.

Shanties are a symbol of the temporary, fragmented, partial world they come from: the Atlantic

The term ‘shanty’ itself (or ‘shantey’ or ‘chanty’) didn’t make its way into dictionaries until the mid-19th century.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Keep reading with a free trial

Subscribe and get your first month of online and app access for free. After that it’s just £1 a week.

There’s no commitment, you can cancel any time.

Or

Unlock more articles

REGISTER

Comments

Don't miss out

Join the conversation with other Spectator readers. Subscribe to leave a comment.

Already a subscriber? Log in