An interesting question. I suppose it first requires a maritime tradition and then, ships large enough to warrant concerted crew action in order to engage in tasks efficiently. The thing that first comes to mind would be slave rowing galleons and we’re all familiar with (the movie and probably historical depiction) the beat of a drum. Come along boys, you all know this one - its in the key of groan. What does Pliny say about this?
I can imagine Polynesians singing while paddling though.
It would really embarrassing if they got stuck again on the way out.
Excellent work!
And the old wooden roller-coaster, that as I kid I never questioned.
(I know, it’s next to the PNE. But still).
Was on a sailing course mumble mumble years ago. Four or five persons to a smallish sailing dinghy, cruising around on the Bergumermeer and canals in Friesland (NL) all day long. Started singing after day two. Nobody knew any sea shanties (are you even allowed to sing them on inland waters?) so old pop songs it was. California Dreaming sung as a canon was quite popular.
Ah, the Shepard’s Prayer…
Western sea.shanties would have been sung, at sea, by a significant proportion of African sailors. I did read in a folk musicology book, decades ago, that it changed the harmonic component of shanties. Most didn’t have harmony and of course the rhythm of a work song is dependent on the work being done.
Imagine if it was this one of Evergreen’s other ships that got stuck? The press would’ve had a field day with the puns.
Even worse would have been if it were this ship:
From what I’ve read, the regular captain and crew don’t guide the ships through the Suez Canal; there’s a Suez-employed crew and pilot put on each ship to steer it through the canal. If there are lawsuits coming, they would be more properly directed at the Canal authority.
It’ll be interesting to see if Egypt consents to any liability,
“Egyptian law makes clear that pilots are not liable for any damage during their watch of the ship.”
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