I just happened to create a “sea” Playlist, mostly consisting of Barrett’s Privateers. Thoughts on the flavors:
- Stan Rogers. Og version. Actually one of my favorite.
- The Wellermen. Good variety. Changing vocalists and drums add a lot.
- Kingston Trio. Classic folk band, acapella, I think this is the only other variant I’ve heard that matches the original lyrics. Would recommend.
- Jonathan Young. Metal version. I really want to like this, but it is simultaneously both too metal and not metal enough.
- The Real McKenzies. Love the fast tempo, but I find the change in lyrics extremely annoying.
- The McCalmans. Change in tempo and change in tune make this unenjoyable.
- Gustavo Steiner. Sad guy on a guitar. If that’s your thing you might enjoy this, otherwise, no.
Good list! Ole Stan is the Goat, here’s my lubber thoughts, listening:
Stan: (literally the FUCKING GOAT)
Wellerman: Too polished, too harmonic, lacking the fuck my life feeling of the song
Kingston Trio: wayyy too harmonic, too jaunty. Fuck, sing a fun song without a perfect harmony
Johnathan Young: not all fantastic inspiring songs need to be ballads. It is a great song! But not fitting.
Real Mckenzies: fantastic “let’s FIGHT” vibe
Alas, alack, I think still Stan!
This was the best part of playing AC: Black Flag for me.
Straight banger.
Funnily enough, I picked it up many many years after it came out, being able to sing along to the shanties hooked me!
Leave her Johnny, Leave her.
No lie, singing shanties with my wife while we’re cleaning the kitchen… makes the cleaning wayyy more fun
Sing a long shanties should be excluded: https://youtu.be/49FWp7WLYKw
One of my early introductions to the genre, love that video. There’s something deeply spiritual about a crowd raising their voices in song, thank you!
Then off to reap the corn, and leave where I was born, I cut a stout black thorn
“Oh me! Oh my!”, I heard me old wife cry! https://youtube.com/watch?v=L-N_0ZnueVY
A swingin’ sword, a skull and bones, and pleasant company
I never pay my income tax and screw the GST! (Screw it!)
Sailing down to Saskatoon, the terror of the sea
If you wanna reach the co-op boy, you gotta get by me!
Har-har!
ha ha, vagina
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now…
One time in high school this girl came up to our lunch table and said “isn’t it funny how white people have no culture?” so I looked at the only other white guy at the table and sang the first line to this song, and then he sang back. We had never even discussed it before, lucky guess that he knew it. Everyone else asked wtf that was and I said “oh you wouldn’t understand, it’s a white people thing”.
A letter of
markmarque came from the king(marque)
I too came here to spellcheck this :D
To the scummiest vessel I’d ever seen
GOD DAMN THEM ALL
I was told we’d cruise the seas for American gold
We’d fire no guns, shed no tears
Now I’m a broken man on a Halifax pier,
the last of Barrett’s privateers.
Oh Elcid Barrett cried the town
We’d fire no guns, shed no tears
To the scummiest vessel I’ve ever seen
Tires of sea shanties? Might I suggest some land shanties instead?
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_n-GQcUzZkJlnZVM46fmDlG01Iznbr2ItE
Got it, folk songs about labor it is
We’re the first ones to starve, we’re the first ones to die…
The first ones in line for that pie in the sky!
And we’re always the last when the cream is shared out!
🎵I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night…
Alive as you and me
Says I “But Joe, you’re ten years dead”
I never died says he!
Long haired preachers come out every night, try to tell what’s wrong and what’s right…
But when asked about something to eat, they reply in voices so sweet…
You will eat (you will eat)
By and by (by and by)
In that glorious land in the sky (way up high!)
Work and pray, live on hay,
You’ll get pie in the sky when you die…
(THAT’S A LIE!)
The internet saw one guy’s YouTube video of him doing a 4-part arrangement of Wellerman and now everyfuckingbody thinks they love sea shanties.
I mean, I know what it’s like to have “tourists” invading your space after some trend blows up, but there could very much be a new wave of people who have grown to love or enjoy a sea shanty or two now. If people aren’t introduced to something, how would they ever know they like it?
If a person liked a venre enough to make a playlist, I’d say they’re enough of a fan. It’s like people who are discovering the fun in “classical” (baroque, classical, romantic, etc.) music.
I liked sea shanties before they were cool
Started for me with Muppet Treasure Island, then reinforced with Assassin’s Creed Black Flag.

I got into it because of the Aubrey/Maturin novels. They mention a few of them in there and I made a playlist of them.
Then I created an Irish Rock Pandora station for March and that had a ton more.
This one is my favorite, but the whole album is a banger
Thanks for that.
If you haven’t already heard, give Misbehavin’ Maidens a whirl. Very fond of Granny’s Advice.
The Mary Wallopers just came on my radar and I think you’ll like them too
New things, thanks.

Yeah, I totally don’t have a 3 hour long sea shanty playlist, no sireee
Check out the Dreadnoughts, fucking amazing Canadian band
Zajebiscie, Kurwa! Fucking love the Dreadnoughts :)
I’m lucky enough to have seen them twice, just amazing all around
I am a confirmed reptile when it comes to the weather, but I braved Toronto in winter to see them play Lee’s Palace… no regrets.
The first time I saw them was at a New Year’s Eve show at The Rickshaw in Vancouver. IIRC, they were opening for Ninjaspy, who were friends of mine (could’ve been the other way around, it was almost 20 years ago). The two bands joined forces to lead the crowd in a midnight singalong of Bohemian Rhapsody.
I used to go to The Dreadnoughts’ annual Punkstravaganza mini festival at The Rickshaw every year, but I moved away a few years ago. Now I only brave the winter drive if they release a new album or if I’m really into one of the openers.
They’re one of my 10-year-old stepkid’s favourite bands. I’ve promised to take her to see them if they’re still playing when she turns 19.
I miss me lass















