I am not normally a poster, but I have been really enjoying sea shanties lately, I have performed a search of the forums and the subject has not been bought up before, maybe the link is a bit obvious (?)
Bunker Hill posted an article in the latest Paul Oliver book thread, which says Paul only believes there is a limited link with shanties and work songs. However....
I have a holiday chalet down in Cornwall near Port Isaacs and every Friday night the fisherman of Port Isaacs still sing sea shanty and sea songs, I went to see them last weekend for the second time. Just the call and response thing got me first, clearly typical of most work songs. But I think also lyrically, there are common themes. Some seem obvious such as, being a long way from home, going away/leaving, homeward bound etc. but then there are a lot of songs about sea legends, or infamous seamen and of course songs about drink and women.
A link below to a good sea shanty site and a clip of the great fishermen of Port Isaac. Which, although completely free (they have a whip round for sea rescue charities) is one of the most enjoyable evenings of live music I have been too, helped of course by a wonderful setting and great food and drink.
http://shanty.rendance.org/index.phpI would very much like to hear from anyone who may have looked at the links before whether musically or historically
