In the last few days I have become rather obsessed with Sea Shanties – as examples of authentic folk music of sea-going communities. I’m fascinated by ‘working’ music – by which I mean music which is needed to do a certain role. On sailing ships there were many heavy jobs and it was important to ‘pull’ together, hence the need for music for particular jobs.
So I have the pleasure in introducing some music that almost nobody has heard for 100 years or more.
First, a version of Haul Away JOE (this is not a mild tune, the men would rest and then pull hard on the JOE)
second a version of Roll the Cotton Down
These have been uploaded by a rather amazing guy. More than 400 shanties were collected by a man called Stan Hugill in a classic book from the 1960s, who was said to be the last working Shantyman. These were foremen on the sailing ships who would call the shanties as the men worked.
