Stormy Winds Do Blow (Charlie Zahm)
Sea Shanty Medley (Home Free)
Soon May the Wellerman Come (The Hound + the Fox featuring Adam Chance)
And these aren't really sea shanties, but they're also great for drumming:
Tighinn air a' mhuir tha fear a phòsas mi (Capercaillie)
Alasdair Mhic Cholla Chasda / Rory MacLeod (Capercaillie)
Basically, songs and instrumentals with a steady rhythm work well, especially those with a moderate beat - not too fast or slow. In fact, the word "shanty" comes from the French "chanter," meaning to chant. If you're thinking about learning bodhrán, some YT tutorials that have been exceptionally helpful are those by:
Ruiari Glasheen
Nicolle Fig
If you're interested in the origin of sea shanties, this article at ClickAmericana had tons of interesting facts, including the abovementioned source of the word shanty.
To get back to the point, I have a theory. Traditional sea songs and modern beach-rock car songs are related. The more I hear of the shanties, the stronger the evidence. Please consider:
There's the new built "Terra Nova", she's a model with no doubt
There's the "Arctic" and "Aurora", you've heard so much about
There's Jacklin's model mail-boat, the terror of the sea
Couldn't beat the old "Balena" boys, on a passage from Dundee.
- The Balena, Traditional sea shanty
Just a little deuce coupe with a flathead mill
But she'll walk a Thunderbird like she's standin' still
- Little Deuce Coupe, The Beach Boys
The wind is on her quarter and her engine working free
And there's not another whaler a-sailing from Dundee
Can beat the old "Balena," you need not try her on
For we challenge all both great and small from Dundee to St.John.
- The Balena, Traditional sea shanty
When I take her to the track she really shines
(giddy up giddy up 409)
She always turns in the fastest times
(giddy up giddy up 409)
Giddy up 409...
Nothing can catch her
Nothing can touch my 409
- 409, The Beach Boys
For twenty-five long years she ruled the Northern sea
Riding like a queen on the tide
In the Caribbean one dark and stormy day
She ran into a reef and died
Bluenose, the ocean knows her name
Sailors know how proud a ship was she
Bluenose, leading in the wind
Racing ev'ry wave on the sea
- Bluenose, Traditional sea shanty
She had a classic beauty that everyone could see
I was the last to meet her, but she gave her life to me
She may be rusted iron, but to me she's solid gold
And I just can't hold the tears back
'Cause Betsy's growing old
- Ballad of Old Betsy, The Beach Boys
Not a million miles apart, am I right? Any minute I expect one ship's captain to offer to race the other ship's captain for pinks.
And what does this have to do with knitting, you ask? Nothing at all. Except that maybe the sailors wore sweaters.
Anyway, happy knitting (and drumming and shantying), and please stay safe.
~ Caroline
