Eye Imagine: Sea Chanteys

The first time I heard sea chanteys at Mystic Seaport, I was amazed by the beauty, rhythm, and sound of it. Sea Chanteys are working songs for maritime workers. The rhythm of the songs were meant to synchronize with the rhythm of the work they were performing on the ships and shore. The chanteys were especially helpful when teams of men had to work together. Each breath inhaled and exhaled would ease the strain of their laborious tasks. The robust voices of sailors singing of long lonely voyages out at sea, loved ones they left behind and sights they've seen are all very common chantey themes.

On one occasion while I was drawing at Mystic Seaport with the Dalvero Academy, there was a sea chantey festival. It was amazing to see these songs performed by what looked like everybody in the village of Mystic. The young and old would join their voices in the chorus with the performers and the swells of their voices would resound from the wall reminding us of the sea.

One of the songs I've always heard growing up, the Banana Boat song, was apparently sung by black dock workers who used to unload and load banana filled boats on the Mississippi. There are so many sea chanteys that we've always listened to an never knew were maritime songs. I hope that everyone will be able to share my wonderful experience with the music from the heart and soul of the people who ply the vast oceans for their livelihood.

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Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Sea Chanteys

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