Set Sail with Sea Shanties! (KS2)
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Ahoy there, young musicians! Today we are weighing anchor and setting sail into the wonderful world of Sea Shanties. If you’ve ever found yourself humming a catchy tune with a steady beat, you might already be a shanty fan without even knowing it!
What is a Sea Shanty?
A sea shanty is a type of work song that was once sung by sailors on big merchant sailing ships. Back in the days before engines, everything on a ship had to be done by hand. Pulling up heavy anchors, raising giant sails, and hauling ropes was incredibly hard work.
To make the jobs easier, sailors sang together. The strong, steady rhythm of the music helped everyone pull at exactly the same time. This is called synchronisation. Most shanties use a "Call and Response" pattern: a leader (the "Shantyman") sings a line, and the rest of the crew bellows the answer back!
Four Famous Shanties to Know
Shanty Title | Type of Work | Fun Fact |
Drunken Sailor | Halyard (Raising Sails) | One of the most famous shanties in the world! |
Wellerman | Shore-based Whaling | Became a massive viral hit on TikTok in 2020. |
Can't You Dance the Polka? | Capstan (Raising Anchor) | Also known as 'New York Girls'. |
Blow the Man Down | Halyard (Rope Pulling) | This was one of the first Sea Shanties published in 1888! |
1. What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor?
This is a "stamp-and-go" shanty. It has a very fast, energetic beat because it was used for tasks where the sailors had to run down the deck while pulling a rope. It’s famous for its "Early in the morning!" refrain. Can you try marching to the beat? Left, right, left, right!
Download the Music
2. The Wellerman
You might recognize this one! Although it’s often called a sea shanty, it’s actually a "ballad" because it tells a long story. It’s about a ship called the Billy of Tea and the crew waiting for the "Wellerman"—a supply ship—to bring them "sugar and tea and rum." It has a great "thumping" beat that makes you want to clap along.
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3. Can't You Dance the Polka?
This song is a "capstan shanty." A capstan was a big heavy machine used to wind up the anchor rope. Sailors would push long wooden bars and walk in a circle around the capstan to make it turn. Because they were walking, the music is a bit slower and steadier than 'Drunken Sailor'. It tells a funny story about a sailor meeting a girl in New York City.
Download the Music
4. Blow the Man Down
This is a famous "halyard" shanty used for raising heavy sails. It has a great swinging rhythm that helps sailors pull the ropes together! Imagine you are pulling a long rope down from the sky as you sing along. This famous song was from the Black Ball line and was one of the first published in 1888.
Download the Music
How to Sing Like a Sailor
To get the real shanty sound, you don't need a perfect singing voice—you just need plenty of energy!
Find the Pulse: Most shanties are in 4/4 time (1, 2, 3, 4). Tap your foot or clap along.
Call and Response: Try singing with a friend. One person is the Shantyman, and the other is the crew!
Strong Accents: Emphasise the first beat of every bar. This is the "heave" where the sailors would have pulled the hardest.
Sea shanties are a brilliant way to explore music history and rhythm. In the Triquetrae Music Education Programme, we often look at how different styles of music—from folk songs to classical pieces—help us understand the "M.U.S.I.C." principles of engagement and mastery.
So, grab your imaginary oars, warm up your vocal cords, and start singing.
Which one is your favourite?
Key Stage 2 Music Quiz: Work and Rhythm!
1 . What is the main musical reason sailors sang shanties when hauling heavy ropes?
A. To tell long stories about their adventures.
B. To help everyone pull at exactly the same time (synchronisation).
C. To stop them from falling asleep on watch.
A. Verse and Chorus
B. Loud and Quiet (Dynamics)
C. Call and Response.
3 . Which type of shanty, like 'Can't You Dance the Polka?', was sung while sailors walked in a circle around a large machine to raise the anchor?
A. Halyard Shanty
B. Capstan Shanty
C. Shore-based Ballad.
For more musical adventures and to learn about our curriculum levels, visit the Triquetrae Academy website.
Key Stage 2 Glossary: Nautical Terms
Sea Shanty: A type of work song sung by sailors to help them coordinate when doing heavy jobs on a ship.
Synchronisation: Using the steady rhythm of a shanty to make sure everyone pulls a rope or pushes a capstan at exactly the same moment.
Shantyman: The sailor who leads the singing by singing the 'Call' part of the song.
Call and Response: A singing pattern where one person sings a line (the 'Call') and the whole group sings the next line back (the 'Response').
Halyard Shanty: A fast, energetic shanty used for quick tasks like raising heavy sails and hauling ropes (e.g., 'Drunken Sailor').
Capstan Shanty: A slower, steadier shanty sung while sailors walked in a circle around a machine (the capstan) to raise the heavy anchor (e.g., 'Can't You Dance the Polka?').
Ballad: A song that tells a long story, which is often mistaken for a sea shanty (e.g., 'The Wellerman').
Pulse: The steady beat or rhythmic 'heartbeat' of the music.
Strong Accents: Emphasising the first beat of the music to signal the point where the sailors must pull the hardest ('The Heave').
