The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #57580   Message #906218
Posted By: Peter Kasin
09-Mar-03 - 10:47 PM
Thread Name: Real Info on Categories of Sea Songs
Subject: RE: Real Info on Categories of Sea Songs
A few examples:

Pumps (or Capstan) Roll The Old Chariot
Capstan: Paddy Lay Back
Long Haul: The Blackball Line (two pulls on the line while singing the chorus).
Short Haul: Sally Racket (one pull during the chorus)
Bunting: Paddy Doyle's Boots

The capstan is an iron winch used for raising anchor, or yards (which go across the masts) or anything else too heavy to lift by hand alone. Wooden bars, sometimes called handspikes, were inserted into the capstan and pushed, rotating the capstan.

The chanteys mentioned can be found here, or in Stan hugill (which Charley mentioned). Hugill also has a great introduction explaining the deveopment and uses of chanteys. Happy hunting! The chantey world's your oyster. Much to discover.

Best,

Chanteyranger