Shanty, like calypso, is performed extempore: "...the men sang a verse, or part of a verse, and were then followed by the females, who took up their part very readily; and their fine clear voices, keeping time with the motion of the oars, had a pleasing effect." A rose is a rose is a rose... Same volume (and crew) has the earliest example of Cheerly Men in the document record. If the object of a good rowing, pump or capstan cadence is to "fool the hours" I'd say these folks here have got the general idea just fine.
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