The definition of a 'shanty' is often disputed within the folk community by historians, experts and even shanty singers themselves. Although we now think of a sea shanty as any kind of nautical folk music based around themes of the sea, a shanty is actually something much more specific. So, what does this mean for the TikTok hit 'Wellerman', which everyone has come to think of as a sea shanty?
Why 'Wellerman' isn't actually a sea shanty
'Hard-line shanty singers will often argue that a shanty shouldn't have harmonies and should be sung in unison,' Bristol-based shanty group The Longest Johns told us. 'The core definition of a shanty is a song that was sung using specific rhythms and created for a specific job.'
What does that mean in practice? Does this effect what we think of as the 'sea shanty canon'?
'If we're going on technical terms, 'Wellerman' isn't a sea shanty – it's a folk song,' The Longest Johns explain. 'It wasn't used on boats as a work song when it was used during the 18th century. It was a maritime song that was used for recreational purposes.' This will shock many #SeaShantyTikTok fans. Scottish postman Nathan Evans went viral on the app with his version of the 'non-shanty' version of 'Wellerman'.
Obviously, The Longest Johns aren't evangelical about this. They're in it for the same reasons we are. We want to have a good time and sing songs of the sea together. 'We think probably only about a third of our repertoire would technically be defined as a shanty,' they confess. 'It doesn't matter though. It's all about joining in and the fun that can be had.'
Their version of 'Wellerman' entered the UK Top 40 singles chart. It also helped secure them a record label contract with Decca Records.
So, what actually makes a song a sea shanty? We explain here what a sea shanty is and how you can decipher between a maritime song and a shanty.
Find out what we chose as the best sea shanties of all time.
Read the lyrics to Wellerman here.
