East Bay Express
Pirate Radio
Celebrating sea shanties: Songs of misogyny, racism, colonialism and, yes, sailing.
By Brian Kluepfel
Article Published Jan 14, 2004


The sea shanty: Its not just for sailors anymore. These days, in fact, its hardly for sailors at all.

Shanties are rarely sung to real work these days -- although their original purpose was to ease the drudgery of shipboard manual labor. But the East Bay abounds with folks who pride themselves on esoteric knowledge, songsmanship, and the ability to down a pint or three. Cornered at their favorite land-based drinking holes, they gladly walked the historical plank of rum, sodomy, and the lash to offer up their version of the truth.

Paddy lay back, take in the slack
Take a trip around the capstan, heave a pawl
About ships stations boys be handy
For were bound for Valaparaiso round the Horn

...These dudes knew that on the high seas, their value was equal to anyone elses when the chips were down.

From the Barbary Coast steer clear me boys an from ol Larry Marr
Or else damn soon shanghaied yell be by Larrys five-gallon jar

Five-Gallon Jar, or Larry Marr, has its origins just across from the Balcluthas moorings: San Franciscos infamous Barbary Coast, where saloon-keeping scum like Marr loaded patrons drinks with drugs. Said unfortunate drinkers often woke up five miles out to sea in the service of the Chinese tea trade -- hence the term shanghaied -- with little choice.

...Most local currents in shantying and sea music wash up at Embarcadero Cove, where Oaklands Skip Henderson leads the Starboard Watch in song each Thursday at Quinns Lighthouse. Its all about the entertainment to Skip, a sort of modern-day Billy Bones, with his legs splayed at crazy angles while his feet stomp the peanut shells into submission and his hands rock the concertina, button box, or guitar.

Henderson performs a mere stones throw from his boat, docked at the pier. Hes also the real article, a lifelong sailor who learned Tarpaulin Jacket from his father. He sings em in a lively, warm, and knowledgeable way, Shay Black raves of Skip. I think hes seriously underrated.

Shay, Skip, and the rest have done their part to keep the shanty and sea music alive around the old shipyards of Oakland and San Francisco. So even if youve never experienced Hard Times in Old Virginny or screwed cotton down by Mobile Bay, the shanty might help you in this modern, workaday life -- in traffic on 880, sweeping up the kitchen, or keeping a steady rhythm on the ol treadmill.

Theyre compelling songs of loneliness, fear, longing, and love, sometimes dreaming about a better life...