Hmmm ! I think this was an attempt at some serious acedemic study.

Guest John Goff - please hold in mind that what the general public might thinks as Chanty's has a a wild varience.

A Shanty is a work song, to hold the cadence whilst team work is being done - A good Shanty man would vary the pace, time and words to fit the work to be done, after all there is a difference between the shanty needed to coordinate the work in a capstan haul, and ay trimming the sails. And the ability to vary the words to fit a particular ship and the foibles of the owners, mate, cook and master required some sense of occasion and humour.

Forebitters, songs for entertainment were a different study, tho the tune may be familiar, the words would change.

Rutters, Sailors Mnonics (SP) for pilotage or similar were again different. Plot the points of mention (departures) of "Spanish Ladies" against a chart of the English Channel and you will see what I mean.

Broadside Ballads - and many a wreck is mentioned, were, or could have been, commercial attempts to gain income on the back of disasters.

I hope this gives you some ideas of where to look, and incidently "The Shoals of Herring" or "Fiddlers Green" or "Barratts Privateers" are modern narratives.

'Catters any other thoughts ?

Gareth