“Drunken Sailor”

Welcome to the 2024 Sea Song Showdown fundraiser. We’re singing our hearts out to raise money for our educational and interpretive programs at the Maritime Museum of BC!

To put the “fun” in “fundraiser”, we’re showcasing eight classic sea songs performed by maritime organizations in weekly matchups until 24 June; follow along on our blog and social media to see which sea song is this year’s favourite. All campaign proceeds go directly to support our programs, but you can let us know which sea song inspired your donation by voting each week.

MMBC Staff present an extremely well-known shanty, familiar to even casual shanty enthusiasts: “Drunken Sailor”. Used both as a work song–though the specific task that it was used for is disputed–and then as a popular song at the turn of the 20th century, the song describes a variety of creative and tongue-twister punishments for a sailor found tipsy.

Although light-hearted when sung on land, the lyrics gesture towards often brutal punishments aboard ships during the Age of Sail. These ranged from humiliation or using sea water to douse a sailor run afoul of the captain’s orders, to capital punishment for more serious offences. While many sea songs describe working conditions and sailors’ adventures, this classic shanty relates a very specific maritime experience.

The Lyrics

There are many versions and arrangements for this song. We’re using these lyrics:

From the 2023 Victoria Harbour exhibit:

One of the earliest shipyards founded in Victoria was Laing’s Ways, opened in 1859 by Robert Laing, and located in the Middle Harbour. Longer lasting is Point Hope Shipyard in the Upper Harbour, which has existed since 1873. Over the first sixty years of operation, the shipyard changed hands and changed names several times. It wasn’t until 1938, when it was bought by Island Tug and Barge, that the name Point Hope Shipyard stuck.

Photo: MMBC Collection 989.257.0036b. Horn ship model.