About Sea Shanties

Sailing ship on stormy sea

About Sea Shanties

Selsey is a community on the South Coast of West Sussex with strong seafaring links going back many generations; in fact it is mentioned twice a day in ‘The Shipping Forecast’ on BBC Radio 4.

As a group we have strong links to the Selsey Lifeboat Station, as we perform on the station apron throughout the summer months, raising much needed funds for the RNLI. The station is fairly new, and is equipped with a Shannon class lifeboat as well as operating RIBs. There’s also a shop selling RNLI merchandise. If you would like to learn more about the Selsey lifeboat have a look at their website: http://www.selseylifeboats.co.uk

Our local fishing fleet has operated from the beaches for centuries and, in the 18th century, smuggling was widespread and extremely profitable. 

We felt it was time this heritage was represented in ‘Rollocky Bollocky’ musical form, and what better way than via Sea Shanties?

“…we will sing of Mates and Gaffers and Skippers who are mad; we will sing of heroes and villains of the good and of the bad, but whatever we sing we know that you will join in every song and if you don’t we will just go ON and ON and ON!”

What is a Sea Shanty?

A shanty is a ‘Call and Response’ working song. So much work on board ship required a rhythm that songs were used to maintain the beat.

Different beats were required for different tasks and so the songs also differ in their rhythms. There were short drag, short haul, halyard, windlass and capstan shanties amongst many others and many versions of the same song or chant.

The word itself is believed to derive from ‘chantez,’ the French verb ‘to sing.’

Singing was also a popular pastime aboard ship and in port. Named after the crew quarters in the ship’s fore-castle, these fo’c’sle shanties are more melodious than the work songs and derive from ballads, poems and other sources.

We have ALL types in our repertoire. See if you can tell US which is which!

If we’ve inspired you to join in with us, please click here to get in touch!