Then there are the ceremonial "shanties" such as "Dead Horse", only sung after being at sea for the first six weeks. The sailors were generally provided an "advance" equal to six weeks pay which was supposed to be used for outfitting. Sometimes they didn't even get the advance, it being ripped off by less than scrupulous shipping masters (i.e. crimps, shanghaiers, internet skammers). At any rate the sailors generally viewed the initial six weeks as working without pay, the equivalent of supporting a "dead horse". Anyway, a straw-filled canvas would represent the dead horse and being hauled up to the yardarm to this shanty and then dropped into the sea, followed by the shantyman who probably picked the wrong key!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, who invariably backs the wrong "dead horse."